Gainesville man indicted on federal charge of firearm possession by a convicted felon

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kenneth Ellis Wetherington, 59, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge.

Wetherington appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.

Wetherington faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted.

Original arrest

At about 10:15 p.m. on November 21, 2025, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 100 block of NW 9th Terrace; witnesses said shots had been fired from the parking lot of the building at 102 NW 9th Terrace. One witness said Wetherington was seen arguing with an unknown male and the argument escalated until Wetherington fired a pistol.

Officers made contact with Wetherington at his apartment in the building where the shots were reported, and a witness said Wetherington had admitted that he had a gun during the argument and had fired several shots. Three .40 S&W Federal shell casings were reportedly found in the parking lot.

A search warrant for Wetherington’s apartment was obtained, and officers reportedly found a handgun loaded with six .40 S&W Federal rounds that matched the shell casings recovered outside.

An additional loaded magazine for the handgun was also reportedly found, along with a broken shotgun, 28 rounds of .40 S&W Federal ammunition, and 26 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.