Resisting arrest charge leads to federal prison for Florida man

FLORIDA – A convicted felon who allegedly forcibly resisted arrest has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO) has announced.

According to the USAO, U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington sentenced Cleate Wilson, 40, of Tampa, to six years and six months in federal prison for forcibly resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with two Deputy United States Marshals (DUSMs) and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Wilson pleaded guilty on October 4, 2022.

The sentence will run consecutive to an 18-month sentence that Wilson is currently serving for violating the terms of his supervised release on a prior federal conviction, the USAO said. The court also ordered Wilson to forfeit an H&K 9mm firearm and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

According to court documents, on May 5, 2022, four DUSMs went to the vicinity of East Bank Drive in Tampa to arrest Wilson, a convicted felon, on an active federal arrest warrant for violating his supervised release. The DUSMs identified themselves and Wilson reportedly attempted to flee, and a struggle ensued. Wilson is alleged to have resisted efforts to arrest him for approximately four minutes. Specifically, Wilson used force in his arms, legs, and torso, pushing against the DUSMS in an attempt to escape, the USAO said.

The deputies said they repeated commands during the struggle, including, “Stop resisting,” “Calm down,” and “Give me your hands,” all of which Wilson reportedly ignored. Wilson eventually stopped resisting and the DUSMs handcuffed him.

Inside Wilson’s waistband, the DUSMs said they found an H&K 9mm handgun loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Wilson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.