Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
James C. Mobley, a 43-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after being convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a strong message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses. Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, this armed felon has been called to account for his continued criminal conduct.”
Mobley was stopped by Gainesville Police Department officers on July 11, 2024. During the stop, officers found a loaded revolver and several types of narcotics in his vehicle. Mobley entered a guilty plea on April 28, 2025, which was scheduled as the first day of his trial. His sentence was enhanced under armed career criminal statutes due to previous felony convictions related to serious drug crimes.
Chief Nelson Moya of the Gainesville Police Department commented: “We have zero tolerance for gun crimes in our community. My message to those who choose to bring guns and drugs to our streets – we will find you, and we will work with all our criminal justice partners to hold you accountable. Our community deserves safety.”
After serving his prison term, Mobley will undergo five years of supervised release. The investigation leading to this conviction involved both the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Harley W. Ferguson and Adam Hapner prosecuted the case.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative by the Department of Justice that focuses resources on combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and addressing violent crime through coordinated efforts such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one among 94 offices across the country responsible for representing the federal government in court under guidance from the Attorney General. Additional information about court documents can be accessed at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or through http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
