Tampa Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Firearm

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Demetrius Sanchez Mitchell (38, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Mitchell faces a mandatory penalty of 15 years in prison. He has agreed to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to his offense.

According to court documents, on July 2, 2022, officers with the Tampa Police Department stopped a vehicle being driven by Mitchell. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded 9 mm pistol in the center console. At the time of the stop, Mitchell had multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, carjacking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Mitchell is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.

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.