A Fort Walton Beach man has been sentenced to twelve and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and unlawful possession of a machine gun, federal prosecutors announced.
Louis Terrell Jones, 42, received the sentence from a federal judge following his guilty plea. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Thanks to the outstanding investigative work by our state law enforcement partner, with support from the ATF, this violent felon has been taken off our streets,” said Heekin. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to keep our communities safe.”
According to court records, the case stemmed from a November 2024 traffic stop conducted by a deputy with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. During the stop, deputies searched Jones’s vehicle and discovered a Glock 9mm pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device. Investigators determined Jones was prohibited from possessing any firearms due to prior felony convictions, including aggravated assault by threat with a firearm.
The 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 prosecution was part of Operation Take Back 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.
