An Orange Park man has been handed down a two-year sentence for a federal firearms violation. D’eante Corker, aged 25, was convicted on November 26, 2024, after a bench trial over possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentencing decision was made by Senior United States District Judge Brian J. Davis.
As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the conviction stemmed from a March 27, 2024 incident when a Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over Corker's vehicle. A canine officer was brought to the scene, and the presence of narcotics was indicated by the canine. This led to a search where a loaded Smith & Wesson pistol was discovered hidden under the hood. Corker admitted to the knowledge of the weapon and acknowledged his legal restrictions against firearm possession, owing to a prior felony.
The investigation was a collaboration between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro leading the prosecution.
This case falls under the larger umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice revitalized PSN in May 2021, focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement efforts, and measuring resultant outcomes of these actions.
