Department of Justice

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Robert Pugh (34, Clearwater) with possession of firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, and Leon Williams (34, Clearwater) with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted, Pugh faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison, while Williams faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

According to the indictment, on January 3, 2024, Pugh was in possession of a loaded Taurus firearm and a loaded Sig Sauer firearm. Prior to possessing the firearms and ammunition, Pugh had previously been convicted of multiple felonies including aggravated battery, felonious possession of a firearm or ammunition, and the sale of cocaine. On the same date, Williams possessed multiple rounds of ammunition. Prior to possessing the ammunition, Williams had been previously convicted of multiple counts of the sale of cocaine.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clearwater Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.