Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than 5 Years For Possession Of Firearms

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Eddy Fonseca (25, Tampa) to 5 years and 11 months in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Fonseca entered a guilty plea on January 30, 2024.

According to court documents, Fonseca was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2019 and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. In May 2023, law enforcement officers observed Fonseca and his girlfriend travel to a firearms store. Fonseca’s girlfriend picked up a firearm from the store that she had filled out the paperwork for, but that Fonseca had paid for. Law enforcement followed Fonseca back to his home in Tampa where they observed Fonseca carrying the box with the firearm into his residence. During the subsequent execution of a search warrant at Fonseca’s home, law enforcement located six firearms in various locations throughout the home. Fonseca claimed responsibility for these six firearms in his plea agreement.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney James Muench.

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.