Del Rio Armed Career Criminal Sentenced 15 Years In Federal Prison

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Kenneth Lorenzo Jackson (49, Del Rio) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jackson entered a guilty plea on October 18, 2023.

According to the plea agreement, Jackson was indicted on September 7, 2022, in a separate federal case charging him with possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. As a result of that indictment, Jackson was the subject of a federal arrest warrant. On October 18, 2022, officers from the Tampa Police Department were patrolling the Sulphur Springs neighborhood of Tampa when they encountered Jackson walking down the street. The officers were familiar with Jackson and were aware of his outstanding arrest warrant. The officers recovered a loaded firearm (Phoenix Arms HP22A .22 caliber pistol) from the front waistband of Jackson's pants, along with a crack cocaine rock in his pocket and a small quantity of MDMA. Jackson later admitted to possessing the firearm for protection.

Jackson has multiple prior felony convictions for drug offenses and, therefore, 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 Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Shauna Hale.

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.