A pair of felony probation checks in Citrus Park turned into a three-person arrest operation yesterday after Hillsborough County sheriff’s detectives and Florida Department of Corrections agents recovered three firearms and narcotics. The arrests pulled 24-year-old Brian Franklin Jr., 18-year-old Brentlin Franklin and 20-year-old Markel Auman into a case that also includes active out-of-county warrants.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said its detectives and FDOC conducted checks on two probation subjects in the Citrus Park area Tuesday. In a Wednesday post, the agency said the operation led to the recovery of three illegally possessed firearms and narcotics.
Three individuals were arrested following felony probation checks that led to the recovery of three illegally possessed firearms and narcotics.
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) July 29, 2026
On July 28, 2026, #teamHCSO detectives and the Florida Department of Corrections conducted checks on two subjects in the Citrus Park… pic.twitter.com/vs8YA7wksH
Three Arrests And A Long List Of Allegations
The arrest information lists Auman on three counts of felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and armed possession of a controlled substance, with the firearm and ammunition allegations identified as involving a juvenile conviction. Franklin Jr. is listed on felon-in-possession firearm and ammunition charges, along with out-of-county probation-violation warrants tied to alleged trafficking in hydrocodone and oxycodone. Brentlin Franklin is listed on two counts of possession of a controlled substance and three out-of-county warrants involving an allegedly concealed firearm, a misdemeanor and displaying a gun or weapon.
Those are allegations at the arrest stage, not findings of guilt. Florida law generally bars a person convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition under Section 790.23, while controlled-substance offenses are addressed under the state’s drug laws in Chapter 893.
Latest Bust Follows Similar Hillsborough Probation Check
The Citrus Park arrests also follow a similar Hillsborough County operation in late June, when an HCSO-FDOC probation check led to the arrest of a convicted felon and the reported seizure of four firearms, ammunition, narcotics and a bottle of chloroform, according to Hoodline’s earlier report. The recurring setup is straightforward: a compliance visit aimed at checking probation conditions can quickly become a broader weapons-and-drugs case when investigators say prohibited items are found.
The sheriff’s public update did not identify the types or quantities of narcotics recovered, provide a street address or say whether additional charges were expected. Booking details and court outcomes may change as the cases move through Hillsborough County’s criminal court system.
