James Wiley Kelley, Jr., 51, from Altha, Florida, has pleaded guilty to several firearm offenses including possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon, possession of a machine gun, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “This case demonstrates the unified commitment of our state and federal law enforcement officers to use the full force of the law to keep our communities safe. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute offenders, like this defendant, to the fullest extent as a warning to criminals that violating our nation’s laws in the Northern District of Florida is a one-way ticket to federal prison.”
According to court records, U.S. Customs Border Protection Agents identified a suspicious parcel with a fictitious name addressed to Altha while inspecting packages from China. Inside was a box labeled “In-Car Vent Mount,” which contained both smartphone vent mounts and three metal parts intended for converting firearms into machine guns. After conducting a controlled delivery of these items, agents executed a search warrant at Kelley’s home where they found multiple pistols, rifles, shotguns, various calibers of ammunition, and methamphetamine. Investigators also determined that Kelley had accepted firearms as payment for methamphetamine.
Kelley is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions related to fleeing law enforcement and drug possession.
The investigation was carried out jointly by Homeland Security Investigations (a division within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jason R. Coody is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2026 at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Judge Mark E. Walker.
Kelley faces up to ten years in prison each for possessing an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon and for possessing a machine gun; he could receive up to fifteen years for being a felon in possession of firearms or ammunition. Additional penalties include three years’ supervised release and fines up to $250,000.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations as well as violent crime across communities nationwide.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is among 94 offices representing principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General. Public court documents are available online via the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website (https://www.flnd.uscourts.gov/). More information about this office can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
