Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Markee Washington, a 34-year-old resident of Jacksonville, to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Washington had pleaded guilty on August 19, 2024.
Court documents reveal that on February 11, 2023, at approximately 10:45 p.m., a Florida Highway Patrol trooper stopped the car driven by Washington. Two officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office soon joined the scene. Due to Washington's admission of smoking marijuana and the smell emanating from him and his vehicle, officers conducted a search. They discovered a bundle of cash and a 9mm Glock pistol hidden in the gap between the car’s ceiling and roof.
The pistol was loaded with an extended magazine containing 31 rounds of ammunition and equipped with a Glock-switch, converting it into a fully automatic machine gun. Washington handed over a small bag of marijuana he had concealed in his pants along with $2,447 in cash found in his pocket.
Investigators obtained a warrant to collect DNA samples from Washington. Laboratory tests confirmed his DNA on both the exterior of the Glock pistol and its ammunition.
At the time of this incident, Washington had multiple prior felony convictions related to drug trafficking offenses. As such, he is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The investigation involved collaboration between the Florida Highway Patrol, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Milliron and Michael J. Coolican.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration among law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on fostering community trust and legitimacy while supporting violence prevention initiatives.