Department of Justice

Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Scott Randall Chance, Jr. (22, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to dealing firearms without a license and knowingly possessing a machinegun. Chance faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in October 2022, federal and local law enforcement agencies identified Chance as a source of supply for illegal firearms and machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) in Duval and St. Johns counties. On four separate occasions, between February and July 2023, Chance illegally sold firearms and MCDs to an undercover law enforcement officer. In total, Chance sold six firearms and three MCDs to the undercover officer.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh.

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.