Back to prison for violent felon allegedly found with stolen car, MDMA, firearm

OCALA, Fla. – A Florida multi-convicted felon with a violent past has been sentenced to prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Timothy Eric Evans, 41, of Leesburg, has been sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell under the Armed Career Criminal Act to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the handgun and ammunition used in the offense.

Evans pleaded guilty on June 8, 2022.

According to court documents, on May 21, 2021, officers from the Tavares Police Department discovered Evans in possession of a stolen vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers said they located MDMA and a loaded handgun in the center console.

Evans is said to have admitted that the MDMA belonged to him but denied possessing the firearm. According to court documents, an analysis of Evans’s cellphone revealed a large volume of messages and images of illegal narcotics and firearms, including messages in which Evans tried to buy and sell firearms.

Evans has eight prior state felony convictions, including attempted strongarm robbery (1998), robbery with a firearm (1998), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (1998), strongarm robbery (2003), attempted second-degree murder (2008), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2008), sale of cocaine (2008), and possession of cocaine (2020). Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Tavares Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.