Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Zackery Chase Brunson, a 33-year-old resident of Shalimar, Florida, has pleaded guilty to possessing firearms as 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: “I applaud the substantial efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners to make our community safer by getting this dangerous repeat offender off the streets. This is yet another important case by my office fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by aggressively pursuing criminal offenders to keep our communities safe.”
In January 2025, authorities executed a search warrant at Brunson’s home in Shalimar. During the search, officers found two rifles, a shotgun, three pistols, and various types of ammunition. Brunson is barred from owning firearms due to prior felony convictions that include possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance.
Brunson could face up to fifteen years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $250,000.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is set for November 13, 2025 at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative that brings together resources from across the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration issues, target cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and combat violent crime through efforts like OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General. More information about court documents can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
