Louis Terrell Jones, a 42-year-old resident of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has been sentenced to twelve and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a machine gun. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “Thanks to the outstanding investigative work by our state law enforcement partner, with support from the ATF, this violent felon has been taken off our streets. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to keep our communities safe.”
The incident leading to Jones’s arrest occurred in November 2024 when an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle. During the search, authorities discovered a Glock 9 millimeter pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device. Jones is barred from owning firearms due to previous felony convictions, including aggravated assault by threat with a firearm.
The investigation was carried out jointly by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice that focuses on combating illegal immigration and dismantling criminal organizations while aiming to reduce violent crime across communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 offices nationwide under the direction of the Attorney General. Additional information about court documents can be found at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. Details about the U.S. Attorney’s Office are available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
