A Fort Walton Beach man was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and unlawful possession of a machine gun, federal prosecutors announced.
Louis Terrell Jones, 42, was sentenced by a federal judge following his guilty plea. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Thanks to outstanding investigative work by our state law enforcement partners, with assistance from ATF, this violent felon was removed from our city,” Heakin said. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to keep our communities safe.”
The incident stemmed from a traffic stop conducted by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies in November 2024, according to court records. During the stop, officers searched Jones’ vehicle and found a Glock 9mm handgun with a machine gun conversion device. Investigators determined Jones had prior felony convictions, including aggravated assault with threat with a firearm, and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This investigation was a joint effort between the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Tharp prosecuted the case.
The charges were filed as part of Operation Reclaim America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating violent crime, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and addressing threats related to illegal firearms and organized crime.
