Gainesville violent felon pleads guilty to unlawful possession of gun & ammunition (DOJ)

Gainesville, Florida - Ramone Ron Young, Jr., 34, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Keeping dangerous, violent felons off our streets is one of my office's top priorities, and thanks to the excellent investigative work of the Gainesville Police Department, with support from our federal law enforcement partners, we have delivered another successful prosecution in this case. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche, my office is aggressively prosecuting criminal offenders to ensure our citizens can enjoy the safe, crime-free streets they deserve."

Court documents reflect that on May 28, 2026, law enforcement responded to a report that the defendant had pointed a gun at another individual. Through investigation, officers determined the defendant possessed a loaded FMK .40-caliber pistol, despite being legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he had been previously convicted of robbery with a weapon and cocaine possession.

Young faces up to 15 years' imprisonment on the possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon count.

Young's sentencing is scheduled for November 23, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. before Chief United States District Allen Winsor at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida.

The plea was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.