Vinson Tavaris Brown, a 33-year-old resident of Homestead, Florida, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and illegal possession of a machinegun. 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 vigilance of our local and federal law enforcement officers, this dangerous felon has been taken off our streets. Protecting our communities from criminals who show a complete disregard for the law remains my office’s top priority, and this successful prosecution is yet another step toward fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the dangerous felons who prowl our streets.”
According to court records, officers with the Tallahassee Police Department stopped a vehicle after it made an illegal U-turn upon leaving Zingales Sports Bar. While three occupants complied with police instructions, Brown attempted to reach under his seat before fleeing on foot. Officers apprehended him and found a firearm equipped with both a machinegun conversion device and an extended magazine beneath the seat he had tried to access.
Brown could face up to 25 years in prison for these offenses.
The investigation was conducted by the Tallahassee Police Department alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is set for December 18, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, which brings together resources from across the Department of Justice to address issues such as illegal immigration and violent crime associated with cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
The United States Attorney’s Office also encourages residents in northern Florida to lock their car doors—especially at night—as thefts from unlocked vehicles remain a significant source of firearms used by criminals in the area.
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.
