Roger B. Handberg, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Markee Washington to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Washington, aged 34 and from Jacksonville, entered a guilty plea on August 19, 2024.
Court documents reveal that on February 11, 2023, at approximately 10:45 p.m., a Florida Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle driven by Washington. Officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office joined the scene shortly after. Based on Washington's admission of smoking marijuana and the odor emanating from him and his car, officers proceeded to search the vehicle. They discovered a bundle of cash and a 9mm Glock pistol concealed between the car's ceiling and roof.
The pistol was equipped with an extended magazine containing 31 rounds of ammunition and had been modified with a Glock-switch to function as a fully automatic machine gun. Washington also handed over a small bag of marijuana hidden in his pants and carried $2,447 in cash.
An investigator obtained a search warrant for Washington's DNA sample. Laboratory tests confirmed his DNA was present on both the exterior of the Glock pistol and its loaded ammunition.
At the time of this incident, Washington had multiple prior felony convictions related to drug trafficking offenses. As such, he is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The investigation involved cooperation between the Florida Highway Patrol, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Milliron and Michael J. Coolican.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that unites law enforcement agencies with communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence while promoting neighborhood safety. On May 26, 2021, PSN's strategy was strengthened by focusing on fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
