United States Attorney
A. Brian Albritton
Middle District of Florida

JACKSONVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR FIREARM POSSESSION

Jacksonville, Florida—U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Leo D. Patterson (age 30, of Jacksonville) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. Patterson was designated an Armed Career Criminal for multiple prior felony convictions, including battery in a detention facility, resisting a police officer with violence, and two prior sales of cocaine. Patterson had pleaded guilty on August 17, 2009.

According to court documents, on the evening of September 22, 2008, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office received several 911 calls reporting men shooting at each other in the Market Street area of Jacksonville. Officers responded to the scene and observed Patterson dropping a gun into the open window of a parked car. They detained and recovered the gun, which was still warm from being recently fired.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF"), Jacksonville Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dineen A. Baker.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice program "Project Safe Neighborhoods"—a nationwide gun violence reduction initiative led by ATF. United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton, along with Virginia O'Brien, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Tampa Field Division, is coordinating the effort here in the Middle District of Florida with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. The objective is to reduce violence crime by locating and seizing unlawfully possessed guns and then swiftly prosecuting the offenders using both federal and state gun laws.