Jaquan Tyrell Calhoun, a 21-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida, has been sentenced to five years and ten months in federal prison for possession of a machinegun. The sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “With yet another successful prosecution, my office continues to deliver on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the violent criminals who have threatened the safety of our communities for far too long. I deeply appreciate the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to identify and remove this offender from the streets, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes with the full force of our federal laws.”
According to court records, Calhoun is identified as a gang member who regularly posted images and videos with firearms on social media platforms. These included multiple videos showing him firing machineguns. On April 21, 2024, Calhoun and codefendant Lagarius Johnson live-streamed themselves displaying cash and firearms; during this video, Calhoun showed a Glock pistol that had been modified with a machinegun conversion device. Later that night, Johnson was arrested while carrying the same illegally modified Glock pistol which authorities confirmed was a machinegun.
FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley commented: “Calhoun’s decision to flaunt a machine gun on social media highlighted the recklessness that endangers our communities. This sentencing demonstrates our commitment to working side by side with our federal and local partners to stop violent and organized criminal activity in our communities.”
Sheriff Chad Scott of Alachua County also remarked: “The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in our commitment to combat gun violence in our community by working closely with our state and federal partners to locate and apprehend criminals like Jaquan Calhoun — individuals who have no business possessing a firearm, let alone one illegally modified into a deadly automatic weapon.”
The investigation involved several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Eric W. Welch prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at using all available resources from the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration issues as well as eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is among 94 offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General. More information about public court documents can be found at U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
