Repeat Felon Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense
Robert Anthony Yancy Jr., 25, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after law enforcement found a firearm in his vehicle.
3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 18, 2026, 5:46 p.m. ET
This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.
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Earlier reports
Aug 18, 2026, 5:52 p.m. ET
Robert Anthony Yancy Jr. Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Firearm Offense
On August 18, 2026, Robert Anthony Yancy, Jr., 25, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to an official record from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida. Upon his release, Yancy will be subject to three years of supervised release. Official records state that Yancy cannot possess a handgun because he is a six-time convicted felon. Court documents reflect that on the evening of January 2, 2026, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Yancy's vehicle. During the stop, law enforcement detected the odor of marijuana and observed evidence of marijuana inside, leading to a vehicle search. Officers located marijuana, a scale with residue, and a handgun. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and we will not yield control of our streets to serial felons, like this defendant, who have amply demonstrated their outright refusal to follow the law. My office will aggressively prosecute these cases to deliver the safe, crime-free streets our citizens deserve." The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner under Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Aug 18, 2026, 5:46 p.m. ETFirst report
Robert Anthony Yancy Jr. Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense
According to official documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida, Robert Anthony Yancy, Jr., 25, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced on August 18, 2026, to two years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Following his release, Yancy will be subject to three years of supervised release. The matter remains open and developing.
Court records state that on the evening of January 2, 2026, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Yancy's vehicle. During the stop, officers detected the odor of marijuana and saw evidence of marijuana inside, leading to a search of the vehicle. Officers found marijuana, a scale with residue, and a handgun. Yancy is prohibited from possessing a handgun as a six-time convicted felon.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said: "The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and we will not yield control of our streets to serial felons, like this defendant, who have amply demonstrated their outright refusal to follow the law. My office will aggressively prosecute these cases to deliver the safe, crime-free streets our citizens deserve."
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Revision history
- Version 118 Aug 2026, 21:52current
First published.
- Version 118 Aug 2026, 21:46current
First published.
- Version 118 Aug 2026, 21:56current
First published.
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