Tyrese Da’Jon Jones, a 26-year-old Gainesville resident, has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as 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: “Kudos to the excellent work by the Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies who took this violent felon off our streets so we could follow that up with a successful prosecution to put him behind bars where he belongs. The Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America continues to deliver wins for community safety as we fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will aggressively prosecute violent felons like this defendant to clean up our streets.”
According to court documents, on July 2, 2025, law enforcement officers approached Jones as he exited a restaurant. Jones fled from police and dropped a fully loaded pistol during his escape attempt. After being taken into custody, Jones admitted he had pulled out the firearm while running and recently used MDMA. He was not allowed to possess a firearm due to five prior felony convictions in two states, including an earlier conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Jones is scheduled for sentencing on April 28, 2026, at 10:00 A.M., before Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville.
The investigation involved cooperation between the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aiming to address illegal immigration and target criminal organizations involved in violent crime and trafficking.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office urges residents to lock their vehicles at night since unlocked cars are frequently targeted for gun thefts in northern Florida.
For more information about public court documents or about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
