An Orlando man with a past felony conviction has been indicted for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the man identified as Elijah Noah Petit-Frere, age 24, faces a significant prison sentence if found guilty of the charges. The indictment was unsealed recently, and Petit-Frere could be staring down the barrel of up to 15 years in prison.
The indictment, unsealed earlier this month, alleges that Petit-Frere was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition on March 11. Preceding this incident, he had been convicted of several felonies, such as carrying a concealed firearm, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.
Under federal law, individuals with felony convictions are prohibited from owning or possessing guns or ammunition. With Petit-Frere's criminal record, the charges he is now facing put him in direct violation of this statute. As of now, he remains detained while awaiting the resolution of his case.
The case against Petit-Frere was brought about by collaborative investigative efforts led by the Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg is assigned to prosecute the case. The effort to curb violent crime and gun violence is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which was launched to make neighborhoods safer by fostering trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve and by backing community organizations that work to prevent violence.
