Fort Myers man pleads guilty to firearm possession as a felon

FORT MYERS, Florida — Marquis Lamar Kitchen, a 38-year-old from Fort Myers, has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

Kitchen faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison, though a sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on March 21, 2024, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department observed a vehicle moving erratically and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle continued for a few blocks before stopping, and officers observed a male with braided hair, later identified as Kitchen, switch seats with a female passenger.

Upon asking the occupants to exit the vehicle, officers found Kitchen in the passenger seat and noticed a pistol on the driver’s side floorboard. DNA analyses linked Kitchen to the firearm. At the time, Kitchen had a prior felony conviction, making him prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust in communities, supporting community-based violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.