A drug and gun raid in Tampa has landed a repeat offender back in the crosshairs of law enforcement, after Hillsborough County deputies say they found a loaded semi‑automatic handgun with an extended magazine and a sizeable stash of narcotics inside a North 12th Street home. The suspect now faces multiple drug and firearm counts, according to deputies. No injuries were reported and the search wrapped up without incident.
What deputies found
During the search, deputies reported seizing more than 100 grams of cocaine, about 60 grams of marijuana and roughly 1.25 grams of fentanyl, along with the loaded firearm and extended magazine. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the warrant was served at a residence on North 12th Street and identified the suspect as 46‑year‑old Theron Mathis, described by deputies as a nine‑time convicted felon. These details and the arrest were reported by Tampa Bay 28.
Suspect and court records
Court calendars from the Hillsborough County Clerk list a Theron Rayshone Mathis and show multiple prior criminal dockets tied to that name, offering public‑record context for the sheriff’s description of the suspect. The clerk’s online listings include aliases, earlier traffic and felony dockets, and a North 12th Street address that aligns with the location of the search. Those records are available through Hillsborough County court records.
Legal implications
Under Florida law, people convicted of felonies are barred from possessing firearms. A felon‑in‑possession case can be brought under Florida Statute 790.23, which classifies such possession as a felony offense and spells out potential penalties and limited exceptions. Deputies and prosecutors say Mathis faces multiple drug and weapons charges, according to Tampa Bay 28, and investigators plan to forward the case to the State Attorney’s Office for formal charging decisions.
