Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. has sentenced Kirby Gant (56, Bradenton) to 21 years and 8 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and hydrocodone, and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Gant was found guilty after a bench trial on Nov. 30, 2017.
According to court documents, at 3:40 a.m. on December 5, 2016, officers from the Bradenton Police Department were on foot patrol in the area of Bradenton Village Apartments when they saw a green SUV with a single occupant, later identified as Gant. As two officers approached the vehicle from opposite sides, one of the officers observed a gun. Gant then attempted to force his way past the officers and was arrested after a brief tussle. The officers recovered 9.6 grams of marijuana, 7.2 grams of hydrocodone, and $1,192 in cash from Gant’s person. A loaded 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number and 7.5 grams of crack cocaine were found inside the SUV. At the time of his arrest, Gant had several prior felony convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
