David Neil Haas, a 38-year-old resident of Clay County, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt. In addition to the prison term, Haas was ordered to forfeit a Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol and ammunition that were involved in the offense. Haas was arrested on September 22, 2025, and pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025.
According to court documents, the incident began on August 11, 2025, when deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office stopped Haas while he was driving a motorcycle without a tag. Authorities also discovered that his driver’s license was suspended. During the stop, an officer noticed a large bulge in Haas's vest and found a loaded black Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol with 13 rounds during a search. At the time of his arrest, Haas had multiple prior felony convictions that legally barred him from possessing firearms.
The investigation into this case was conducted by both the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced: "This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone." He added: "On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results."
