Convicted Felon Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell has sentenced Tavares Speaight (25, Tampa) to two years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Speaight to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
Speaight had pleaded guilty on October 21, 2020.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers went to an apartment complex in Tampa looking for Speaight, who had outstanding arrest warrants. Speaight fled when he saw the officers and, after a brief foot chase, was arrested. Subsequent to the arrest, officers located a handgun on Speaight’s person. Speaight had previously been convicted of robbery, a felony, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
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