Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Jose Ignacio Carrizalez III (27, Clewiston) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Carrizalez pleaded guilty on March 12, 2025.
According to court documents, on April 12, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Carrizalez’s residence after he sold a firearm to a confidential informant and offered to sell another one. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized multiple firearms, assorted ammunition, and a “switch” designed for use in converting a semi-automatic pistol into a machine gun. Carrizalez is a convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Originally published at https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/clewiston-felon-sentenced-prison-unlawfully-possessing-firearm
