Florida multi-time convicted felon sentenced for possession of a firearm

FLORIDA – A Palm Beach County felon with multiple convictions has been sentenced to prison for possessing a firearm.

Tzaddi Lamed D’Marcus Allen, 32, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“The collaborative efforts of our partners in the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative continue to produce impactful results, and we will continue working tirelessly to make North Florida safer,” said Coody.

“This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses.”

“The men and women of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, in concert with our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to pursue violent criminals who unlawfully possess firearms to ensure that the citizens and visitors of this great county remain safe,” said Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida (USAO), on January 31, 2022, a traffic stop was conducted by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputy on a vehicle that Allen was reportedly operating. During the traffic stop, deputies said they found that Allen did not have a valid driver license and that the vehicle’s window tint was alleged to be darker than the legal limit of 28 percent.

Deputies said they detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle’s interior. During a probable cause search, deputies said they located marijuana throughout the vehicle. Deputies said during the search, they noticed that a piece of center console paneling appeared to have been removed and put back into place.

A deputy removed the piece of panel and reportedly discovered a bag containing approximately eight grams of a powdery substance sitting on top of a Canik 9-millimeter pistol. The substance was later identified as a combination of fentanyl and synthetic cathinone, prosecutors said.

The pistol reportedly had a live round in the chamber and 17 additional rounds of ammunition in the magazine. The gun had previously been reported stolen, said the USAO.

Deputies on the scene determined that Allen was a multi-time convicted felon and arrested him for state charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance. Upon arrival at the Alachua County Jail, Allen alerted deputies that he had another small baggie of the powdery substance concealed on his person.

Following the arrest, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms adopted the case for federal prosecution and conducted a follow-up investigation. That additional investigation included sending evidence to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s crime lab, which reportedly recovered DNA consistent with Allen from the firearm.

According to the USAO, Allen had prior felony convictions, including Attempted Robbery, Aggravated Battery on a Person 65 Years or Older, Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Sale of Cocaine, and Sale of Heroin within 1000 feet of a Convenience Business.

Allen had been out of prison for approximately one month when the traffic stop and arrest occurred.

The federal conviction resulted from the joint efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that form the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative (GVI).  GVI partners include the State Attorney’s Office for the Eight Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections.