Marion County Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Offense

Ocala, Florida – Travis Antwan Yates (31, Anthony) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Yates had been indicted on August 14, 2019.

According to court documents, on June 27, 2019, Yates was driving a vehicle with a suspended driver license. During a traffic stop, a canine unit alerted to the presence of illegal drugs inside the car. When officers searched the vehicle, they located a black bag containing cocaine, a loaded handgun, a digital scale, a black cotton ski mask, several pair of black gloves, and Yates’s wallet. Yates admitted that these items belonged to him and that he cannot lawfully possess firearms because he is a convicted felon. A records check subsequently confirmed that Yates has two prior state burglary convictions from 2011. 

This case was jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the City of Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.