A North Fort Myers man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for possessing a stolen firearm as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell handed down the sentence to Michael Lee Stover, 37, following his guilty plea on June 12, 2025. The court also ordered Stover to forfeit the firearm and ammunition involved in the offense.
Court records show that on April 3, 2025, Stover took a firearm from the hood of another man’s car at a carwash in North Fort Myers before fleeing the scene. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered the stolen gun.
Stover has five prior felony convictions: escape from custody and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement (both in 2021), burglary and aggravated battery (both in 2011), and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (2009). Due to these convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan prosecuted the case.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
