Lamar Bunch, age 35, has been indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a May 7 announcement from John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Bunch appeared in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee for his arraignment. The jury trial is set for June 22 before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Bunch could face up to 15 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain is prosecuting the matter.
Heekin said that an indictment "is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt." He added: "All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial."
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as "a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime." The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida enforces federal laws and protects civil rights in northern Florida while collaborating with other agencies through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood and serving 23 counties including Tallahassee and parts of the Panhandle, according to its official website.
The office operates from facilities in U.S. courthouses located in Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Gainesville; it serves as one among 94 offices under direction from the Attorney General within the Department of Justice according to its official website.
