Gainesville man sentenced to 9 years in federal prison on firearm possession charge
Press release from U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Damian J. Brown, 32, of Gainesville, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and is central to our mission to protect the public,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with federal firearm violations.”
On March 22, 2024, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers were conducting routine patrol operations in Gainesville when they spotted Brown. Officers were aware that Brown had an active warrant for violation of probation. GPD Officers attempted to take Brown into custody. He then fled on his bicycle before he was apprehended by a GPD K9 unit after a brief chase. During a search incident to arrest, officers discovered that Brown was in possession of a black Beretta 9mm pistol in the pocket of his pants. The firearm contained a loaded magazine and a chambered round. A second loaded magazine was found in Brown’s other pocket.
“I want to assure the citizens of Gainesville that we are fully committed to reducing gun-related violence in our community. Through strategic partnerships, intelligence-led policing, and community engagement, we will continue to focus on those who unlawfully possess and use firearms. Every arrest we make and every illegal gun we take off the streets brings us one step closer to making Gainesville a safer place for everyone. Together, we continue to build a stronger, safer future for our city,” said Gainesville Police Chief Moya.
Brown’s prison sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Harley Ferguson prosecuted the case.
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.
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.
Alachua Chronicle’s report on Brown’s arrest can be found here, and a second article about additional state charges can be found here.
Yup, 9 years in club Fed for a felon possessing a gun.
All gun charges should carry 5 years minimum
I guess the difference between Fed and Circuit court lawyers is the Feds paid off their law skool loans? They no longer need to release repeat offenders?
This is the same guy who shot the woman walking her dog by Depot Park. Wonder why they haven’t charged him for that one?
His picture and his sentence should be on the city buses instead of ambulance chasing lawyer ads…
“Felon and have a gun? Get caught and you’re done! 10,20, life!”
we need to educate these felons with guns to “don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” 5, 10, 20, life!
They should enact this at the next
Gun violence crisis summit…
He must have missed the Gun Violence Symposium. I’m sure it would have saved him from a life of gun ‘violence’.
“Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida…” Hahaha. ‘Unlocked automobiles’ are the crux of the matter. What is it with PHD, phony govt careerist workers, and their inability to admit that the sky is blue. Years and years of indoctrination and a strong need to justify their salary and retirement? Ya those unlocked cars are the big problem….
Uhm. If you lock your car, they just break the window. Then you lost your stuff and you have to buy a window, too. Don’t leave valuables, including guns, in your cars.
Of course, getting felons off the street helps, too.
It is nice to see the Feds taking up the slack from the local yokels who don’t prosecute or give meaningful sentences.