Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez-Covington yesterday sentenced Daniel Arroyo (39, Tampa) to 15 years, eight months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court also ordered Arroyo to forfeit the stolen firearm, which was used to facilitate the offense. Arroyo pleaded guilty on Feb. 21, 2013.
According to court documents, Arroyo, also known as "King Tweet," worked with a prostitute to steal from her "johns." On August 8, 2011, Arroyo stole a Springfield Model XD-9 semiautomatic handgun from a "john," but the gun owner unexpectedly called law enforcement to report the theft. Law enforcement eventually recovered the gun at an abandoned house, where Arroyo and the prostitute had hidden it, to be retrieved later.
Arroyo is a convicted felon. His prior felony convictions include attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated battery (deadly weapon), carrying a concealed firearm, robbery, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle (occupied), and battery on a law enforcement officer. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.
It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods" program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
