Edward Anderson, 44, of Bradenton, has been indicted on federal charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a machinegun. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison for the firearm possession charge and up to 10 additional years for the machinegun charge, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Anderson has nine prior felony convictions, including two for firearm-related offenses, which legally prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition. The current charges stem from his alleged possession of a modified Glock pistol. The firearm was reportedly equipped with an aftermarket slide cover plate that converted it into a fully automatic weapon under federal classification.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative targeting illegal weapons possession and broader criminal activity involving transnational organizations. The investigation was carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. It also aligns with efforts under programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which focus on reducing violent crime.
An indictment is a formal charge and not evidence of guilt. Anderson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
