Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Lewis Tinson, Jr. (29, Ocala) on an indictment charging him with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on May 22, 2024.
According to the indictment, Tinson is a four-time convicted felon. Each of his prior felony convictions involves firearms. Specifically, he has been convicted of carjacking with a firearm (2012), possession of a firearm by a delinquent (2012), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2018), and shooting at, within, or into a vehicle (2018). As a convicted felon, Tinson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. On August 27, 2021, Tinson was in possession of three firearms and multiple types of ammunition. On September 6, 2021, he was again in possession of another firearm and ammunition.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.