Gainesville man sentenced to 9 years in federal prison on firearm possession charge

Press release from U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Damian J. Brown, 32, of Gainesville, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and is central to our mission to protect the public,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with federal firearm violations.”

On March 22, 2024, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers were conducting routine patrol operations in Gainesville when they spotted Brown. Officers were aware that Brown had an active warrant for violation of probation. GPD Officers attempted to take Brown into custody. He then fled on his bicycle before he was apprehended by a GPD K9 unit after a brief chase. During a search incident to arrest, officers discovered that Brown was in possession of a black Beretta 9mm pistol in the pocket of his pants. The firearm contained a loaded magazine and a chambered round. A second loaded magazine was found in Brown’s other pocket.

“I want to assure the citizens of Gainesville that we are fully committed to reducing gun-related violence in our community. Through strategic partnerships, intelligence-led policing, and community engagement, we will continue to focus on those who unlawfully possess and use firearms. Every arrest we make and every illegal gun we take off the streets brings us one step closer to making Gainesville a safer place for everyone. Together, we continue to build a stronger, safer future for our city,” said Gainesville Police Chief Moya.

Brown’s prison sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Harley Ferguson prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

Alachua Chronicle’s report on Brown’s arrest can be found here , and a second article about additional state charges can be found here .

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