United States District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Christopher O’Neal Houser to four years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The 44-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, entered a guilty plea on October 15, 2024.

Court documents reveal that on February 2, 2024, Houser sold a sawed-off shotgun to another felon. At the time of this transaction, he was already prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine and grand theft. Additionally, Houser had been convicted for sexually assaulting multiple women in 2002 and misdemeanor battery in 2019.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta prosecuted the case.

This sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy under PSN on May 26, 2021, emphasizing trust-building with communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement efforts, and evaluating outcomes.