Florida man pleads guilty to firearms offense, facing 15 years

FLORIDA – A Florida convicted felon has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while on bond for a separate firearms offense.

Cory Lee Kelly, 34, of Jacksonville, has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Kelly faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement, on April 28, 2022, Kelly was pulled over by a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper for a seatbelt violation. The vehicle was occupied by Kelly and a two-year-old child. At Kelly’s driver’s side window, the trooper reportedly smelled marijuana.

Kelly did not possess a valid driver license, and the trooper also determined that Kelly had an outstanding arrest warrant for an unresolved charge of driving with a suspended license. Kelly was detained, and his vehicle was searched. During the search, the trooper reportedly located remnants of marijuana and a Glock-type pistol, which, once the driver’s side door was opened, was said to be readily visible under the driver’s seat.

According to court documents, the pistol had no serial number, was loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition, and had a so-called “Glock switch” – a device converting the pistol into a machine gun; allowing it to fire multiple rounds with the single pull of the trigger – visibly installed at the rear of the slide.

A search of Kelly’s criminal history determined that he had previously been convicted of possession of a controlled substance while armed, a felony offense. The trooper arrested Kelly for, among other things, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, a state offense. On May 3, 2022, while his state case was pending, Kelly was released from custody after posting bond.

On July 19, 2022, an officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reportedly saw Kelly driving a car while speeding, with illegal window tint and an expired registration. The officer signaled Kelly to pull over, which he did. As the officer approached the driver’s side window, Kelly is said to have rolled it down a minimal amount.

When asked to roll it down further, Kelly complied, and the officer reportedly smelled marijuana. Kelly was alone in the car, and visibly within his reach was an AR-style semi-automatic pistol on the passenger side of the car.

When asked, Kelly could not produce a driver license and confirmed that he was a convicted felon. Kelly was detained, and pursuant to a search, in addition to the semi-automatic pistol (loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition), officers said they located counterfeit currency and bags of marijuana and crack cocaine. Kelly was arrested for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

On September 1, 2022, while his two state prosecutions were pending, Kelly was released from custody after posting bond. On September 15, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Kelly for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He was arrested at his home on September 22, 2022, pursuant to that indictment.

When officers entered the home, they said they located a loaded shotgun on the floor of a bathroom. As a convicted felon, Kelly is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.