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Crime & Courts

Gainesville Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Firearm Possession

Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, 28, was sentenced in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 4:34 p.m. ET
Developing · checked 3h ago

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.

We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 20, 2026, 2:39 p.m. ET — checked 3h ago.

Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, 28, of Gainesville, Florida, was on August 20, 2026, to 27 months in federal prison for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida. Court documents state that on November 8, 2025, shortly after midnight, Smith-Carter attempted to flee from police as they approached him behind a Gainesville convenience store. At that time, he was in possession of a loaded .32 caliber pistol, which he threw over a fence. The defendant has been convicted of nine prior felony offenses, including possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin, who said: “Our citizens deserve to live in communities without dangerous, armed criminals – like this serial felon – threatening their safety. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to ensure we deliver on that promise.” Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya added: “Those who have been convicted of a felony and choose to possess a firearm put our community at risk and will be held accountable.” The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hapner. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative.

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 20:34current

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