Tampa, FL- U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Matthew Anillo Mango (32, Lakeland) to 10 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition. This charge stemmed from the 2010 homicide of Lakeland resident Amanda Peterson. Mango pleaded guilty on June 24, 2014.
According to court documents, on Sept. 30, 2010, at approximately 4:00 a.m., the Lakeland Police Department responded to a shooting at Peterson’s residence, where she was discovered on the living room floor with a gunshot wound to her abdomen. Peterson was transported to the hospital, but died as a result of her injuries. Peterson’s death was the result of an unintentional discharge of a firearm, which occurred during an argument between Mango and another individual. After Peterson was shot, Mango and other witnesses fled the scene. Although the firearm that killed Peterson was not recovered, law enforcement linked the spent shell casing and a loaded magazine containing matching ammunition to Mango through fingerprints and other evidence. At the time of the shooting, Mango was a multi-convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case is another example of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to impact violent crime in our communities. It was investigated by ATF and the Lakeland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
