An Ocala man with a history of felony convictions faces the possibility of more time behind bars after a federal indictment accused him of illegally being in possession of firearms and ammunition. Lewis Tinson, Jr., 29, has been slapped with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and could face up to 10 years in prison for each count, per an announcement from United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.
Despite Tinson's past convictions, it is alleged that he was found possessing firearms and ammunition on two separate occasions in 2021. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tinson is seen as a repeat offender with prior criminal activities that tangibly connect back purely to firearms. Notably, his felony wrap sheet includes offenses like carjacking with a firearm and shooting into a vehicle.
However, it's important to note that an indictment is not an admission of guilt but rather an accusation. Tinson, along with all defendants facing criminal charges, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case that has now ensnared Tinson is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
The arrest is made more significant by its connection to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a long-standing initiative to strongly reduce violent crime and improve the security of communities. The program specifically aims to closely unite all levels of law enforcement with the communities they are commissioned to protect, in an effort to suppress violent crime and gun violence. Last year, the Department of Justice revamped PSN to better support strategies focused on building trust within communities, backing organizations who work pre-emptively to prevent violence, and carefully measure the outcomes of these efforts.
