Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Warren Gregory Edwards (34, Fort Myers) to two years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. The court also ordered Edwards to forfeit the Smith & Wesson firearm involved in the offense. Edwards pleaded guilty on December 5, 2024.
According to court documents, Edwards was stopped by deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for driving without a seatbelt. The deputies smelled marijuana, searched the car, and located a Smith & Wesson handgun and numerous bags of marijuana. The majority of the marijuana was in a large, clear plastic bag, and nearby were several new, empty, smaller bags. Also present in the vehicle was a scale and cup with marijuana residue. Edwards, who is prohibited from possessing a firearm based on his convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felon in possession, admitted to ownership of the marijuana and firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.
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.