A Del Rio man with a history of felony convictions has been sentenced to a 15-year term in federal prison following his guilty plea for firearm possession as a convicted felon. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Kenneth Lorenzo Jackson, 49, was already under indictment for possessing ammunition when Tampa Police, upon encountering him in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood on October 18, 2022, discovered a loaded Phoenix Arms HP22A .22 caliber pistol in his possession. Along with the firearm, officers found a crack cocaine rock,, and a small amount of MDMA. Jackson, barred from owning firearms or ammunition because of his criminal record, admitted he was carrying the gun for protection.
The case against Jackson forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at curbing violent crime and gun violence. PSN is a collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies, working together to make communities safer. The Department underscored the importance of a trust-based approach to law enforcement, strategic enforcement priorities, community engagement, and measuring outcomes, as outlined during the program's revitalization in 2021.
Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Shauna Hale lead the prosecution efforts against Jackson, with investigative support provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with the Tampa Police Department.
