Press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Samonta Leondre James, 26, has admitted in federal court that he illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced James’ guilty plea.
“I commend the Gainesville Police Department for its thorough investigative work and efforts to get this dangerous felon off our streets,” U.S. Attorney Heekin said. “My office will continue pursuing these cases aggressively to make clear that the Northern District of Florida has zero tolerance for crime.”
Court documents state that Gainesville police stopped a vehicle in which James was riding as a passenger. During the traffic stop, officers asked whether anyone had a weapon. James reportedly acknowledged that he was carrying a firearm. A subsequent search found a Glock 29 10-millimeter handgun loaded with seven rounds of ammunition. James has previous convictions for possession with intent to sell cannabis within 1,000 feet of a place of worship and possession with intent to sell cannabis, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm or ammunition.
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James is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2027, at 1:30 p.m. in Gainesville before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Fleming is handling the prosecution.
Project Safe Neighborhoods, or PSN, is a nationwide Department of Justice program that unites federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and community safety partners in the effort to reduce violent crime. U.S. Attorneys’ offices coordinate the initiative across all 94 federal districts, tailoring it to address the specific crime and public safety concerns of each community. As part of Operation Take Back America, PSN supports the Justice Department’s broader commitment to protecting communities. The initiative focuses on three central principles: a swift federal response to violent crime and repeat offenders, effective partnerships among agencies at every level, and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of serious, provable offenses and other enforcement strategies. These efforts complement and reinforce President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, creating a coordinated federal response to the most urgent public safety threats facing communities.
