Florida man found guilty of possessing unregistered short-barreled rifles

GAINESVILLE, Florida — Jesse Rance Moore, a 47-year-old from Bell, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury for possessing short-barreled rifles not registered to him, according to a press release from the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Moore, a former Florida Highway Patrol Trooper, was investigated in connection with a series of pharmacy robberies in 2021.

The investigation led to a search of Moore's residence in Gilchrist County, Florida, where law enforcement discovered numerous firearms, ammunition, and accessories. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives identified three of Moore's firearms as short-barreled rifles, which were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Moore is set to be sentenced on January 7, 2025, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before United States District Judge Allen Winsor. He is already serving a 21-year prison sentence for offenses related to the pharmacy robberies and faces up to 10 additional years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine.

The conviction resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys James McCain and David Byron prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The United States Attorney’s Office encourages residents to lock their car doors to prevent burglaries, which are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. For more information, visit the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida website.