United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced that Martez Manning, a 26-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Manning could face a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, with the possibility of life imprisonment. The sentencing date is yet to be determined.
Court documents reveal that Manning has been previously convicted of seven felonies, including possession of cocaine, tampering with physical evidence, and five instances of selling or delivering cocaine. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition. Despite this restriction, on January 2, 2023, Manning was found in possession of a Beretta model 21A Bobcat semiautomatic pistol and two rounds of CCI .22 long rifle ammunition.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the St. Petersburg Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman is prosecuting the case while Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky handles forfeiture proceedings.
This legal action falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a strategy to reduce violent crime by enhancing PSN's core principles: building trust within communities, supporting community-based violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and evaluating outcomes.