Press Release
☷St Petersburg Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years for Possession of Controlled Substances With Intent To Distribute and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ( By Press Release office)
Jan 19,2024
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A judge in Tampa , Florida has sentenced Erik Barner , a 45 - year - old man from St . Petersburg , to 17 years and six months in federal prison for selling and possessing cocaine , as well as possessing a firearm as a convicted felon . Barner had admitted guilt on October 20 , 2023 . According to court documents , Barner sold cocaine on multiple occasions to an undercover informant , leading to a search of his residence and vehicle . Law enforcement found four firearms , ammunition , and 176 grams of cocaine . Some of the firearms were reported stolen , and Barner ' s DNA was found on two of them . Barner had previous felony convictions for drug possession , throwing a missile at a vehicle , and drug trafficking . The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives and the St . Petersburg Police Department . The case was prosecuted by Assistant U . S . Attorney Samantha Newman , and the forfeiture of assets is being handled by Assistant U . S . Attorney James Muench . This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods ( PSN ) , a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by collaborating with law enforcement and communities . The Department of Justice has recently launched a violent crime reduction strategy based on principles such as building trust in communities , supporting violence prevention organizations , prioritizing enforcement efforts , and measuring results .
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