Jacksonville Felon Sentenced To More Than Seven Years For Illegally Possessing A Firearm (DOJ)

Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Emanuel Toney Cuff (24, Jacksonville) to seven years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Cuff entered a guilty plea in September 2024.

According to court documents, on February 20, 2024, officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office were on patrol when they observed Cuff commit multiple traffic violations on a bicycle. While conducting a records search, an officer found an arrest warrant for Cuff and placed him under arrest. During a search of Cuff, officers found a loaded .40 caliber pistol with a large-capacity magazine hidden in Cuff's waistband, five small bags of dipentylone, a small bag of marijuana, and $185 cash in varying denominations. Cuff was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including armed carjacking, carjacking, and robbery by sudden snatching. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

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.