U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Antoine Johnson, a 45-year-old resident of Indialantic, Florida, to 15 years in federal prison. Johnson was convicted as an Armed Career Criminal for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The verdict was delivered on August 8, 2024.
The case arose from an incident on May 9, 2023, when Johnson was stopped for violating a Florida traffic law. During the stop, law enforcement discovered a loaded firearm in his waistband. Johnson admitted he was aware of his status as a convicted felon and acknowledged he should not have been carrying the weapon. The jury found that prior to this incident, Johnson had three separate convictions in Florida for robbery and two sales of cocaine.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Palm Bay Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie McNeff prosecuted the case.
This sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, the Department's strategy under PSN emphasizes trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
