Lakeland Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing Ammunition As A Convicted Felon

Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Solomon Marquise Smith (22, Lakeland) today pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

According to court records, on July 2, 2024, while officers with the Lakeland Police Department were surveilling a home to serve an outstanding arrest warrant for Smith, they observed Smith with a handgun, equipped with an extended magazine, tucked in his waistband. After Smith was arrested on the warrant, the officers obtained a search warrant, searched the residence, and found the handgun hidden in an air vent. The handgun was not marked with a serial number and was loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, officers located images of Smith in possession of the same handgun on social media that had been posted four days before its recovery. Smith has multiple prior felony convictions, including carrying a concealed firearm and possession of cannabis resin. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lakeland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

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.