Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than 3 Years In Federal Prison For Illegally Possessing A Firearm

Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Ricky Darnell Franklin, Jr. (31, Ocala) to three years and four months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the handgun and ammunition used in the offense. Franklin had pleaded guilty on December 12, 2022.

According to court records, Franklin has four prior state felony convictions, including two convictions for attempted second degree murder with a firearm (2010), shooting at or into an occupied vehicle (2010), and possession of a firearm by a delinquent (2010). On September 30, 2021, officers from the City of Ocala Police Department stopped a vehicle in which Franklin was a passenger and recovered methamphetamine and a loaded handgun from the car. Laboratory testing by the FBI conclusively showed Franklin’s DNA on multiple parts of the loaded firearm, including the trigger. As a convicted felon, Franklin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the City of Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

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.