Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, a 27-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Smith-Carter appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville. His jury trial is set for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If found guilty, Smith-Carter could face up to 15 years in prison.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case.
“An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also encourages residents to lock their car doors—especially at night—as thefts from unlocked vehicles are a significant source of firearms used in crimes within the Northern District of Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates under the direction of the Attorney General as one of 94 offices nationwide. More information about its work can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
