Kielma's Survival Blog Be Prepared
Gregory Kielma • October 22, 2023
Are You and Your Family Ready!

Are You and Your Family Ready! Be Prepared.
Tips for Food Purchase, Storage and Staying Alive
Gregg Kielma
Firearms Instructor- FFL-Gunsmith
10/22/23
007
Earlier this month we talked about firearm and ammo purchases and training.
Just a side thought, and about me and we’ll move on….
As a firearms instructor, FFL and Gunsmith I worry about the weaponization of the Justice Department and specifically the CIA, FBI, ATF, Military Leaders, President of The United States, Congress, and The Senate. A group of men and women that are be led by, at times, corrupt government leaders. They can shut any FFL down at the drop of a hat. Guys like me are sitting ducks, just wondering when the heavy hand of the Government will or may attempt to take me out of business.
You know, the sad part friends? In high school and college, I wanted a career in the FBI or the ATF. The days when those two organizations were held in high regard, and it was run by good government. Now everything is upside down. Politics corrupted both government and once great institutions I wanted to be a part of.
Let’s talk about keeping you and your family alive. Please look at some of the things you can be prepare for in advance.
Today's talk is about being prepared for difficult times that may be on the “horizon”. Again, this is not to put fear in your heart, it’s to make sure you have a plan and can execute it if needed for a sustained period of time.
So What Do We Do?
Kielma says,
“As I scoured the web for good information, I have come up with the 21 tips I use to prepare for an EMP, World War, Civil Unrest, A Tyranical Government, and offenders both foreign and domestic. Be smart and defend yourself and your loved ones. Stay prepared.
Gregg continues, “don’t waste your time, money, and energy by repeating the same mistakes that I and so many others have already made. Instead, read this list of tips I wish I’d heard before I started preparing.
1. Start Living Below Your Means Right Now
You don’t want to just buy all your food and supplies with a credit card. Instead, look for ways to lower your bills until you have some money left over for preps.
2. Don’t Blow All Your Money In The First Month
Prepping is something that should be done slowly and steadily. Oftentimes there are survival items you think you need, then later you find out there’s a better deal somewhere or that you already own a suitable substitute. So try to be patient.
3. Store Plenty Of Water
Water is technically more important than food, and you’re going to go through it faster than you think. You don’t have to just buy bottled water. You can collect your own water and store it in collapsible containers or barrels for long periods of time in your garage or basement.
4. Don’t Store Water In Old Milk Jugs
It is so tempting, and it seems like a good idea at the time, but it will end in disaster. It’s hard to wash out all the milk residue which means you could end up with harmful bacteria growing in you water. Also, the plastic is not hardy and will eventually break down, creating a big mess.
5. Don’t Buy Food Your Family Doesn’t Eat
Finding a great deal on a case of canned spinach may seem like a great way to fill the shelves in your pantry, but if your family refuses to eat it, you will have wasted time, money, and space. It’s nice to find a great deal, but if it doesn’t fit your family, pass on it and wait for the next one.
6. Store More Than Just Canned Food
There is this idea that a food pantry must be loaded with canned foods and nothing else. You need to have a variety of canned, dry, and freeze-dried foods in order to diversify your diet. Otherwise, you will get bored with canned food, and all that extra sodium will be bad for your health.
7. Use Sturdy Shelves For Your Storage
That flimsy, particleboard shelves may be inexpensive, but they will not hold up long when you start piling bags of beans and cases of canned goods on them. Your best option would be wire shelving. It is sturdy and can tolerate more weight.
8. Don’t Put All Your Preps In One Place
You never know when disaster will strike. Your entire food storage could be wiped out in the blink of an eye. Place some caches around the area where you live, keep a bug out bag in every vehicle, and if possible, keep some supplies at your bug out location.
9. There’s More To Prepping Than How Much You Store
It takes knowledge and skill as well. Here are 20 skills you might need. (November's Topic) check back! For each of these, you need to get training and hands-on experience. Have a nice library of reference materials stashed away as well.
10. Don’t Forget About Hygiene and Sanitation
Stocking up on toilet paper and soap is just as important as stocking up on food and water. You have to stay clean in order to avoid becoming sick. Getting sick during a survival situation–when hospitals are either closed or overrun–could end up killing you.
11. Don’t Forget About Those With Special Needs
Some people might need insulin, glasses, medication, oxygen, wheelchairs, etc. Make the necessary preparations for them as well.
12. Don’t Forget About Your Pets
If you have pets, you have two choices: plan on feeding and caring for them or abandon them. If you care about your pets, be sure to store pet food, water, and other supplies for them. Make the decision about what you will do with your pets today and don’t wait until the heat of the moment when your emotions are already running high.
13. Don’t Be The Only Prepper In Your Household
Your entire family needs to be on board. They don’t have to be as excited as you, but they do need to have the knowledge and know-how. Make sure you incorporate them into your prepping as much as possible.
14. Don’t Tell Everyone About Your Preps
You don’t want to advertise what you have. If and when disaster strikes, you will have a line of people at your door, and you won’t be able to help them all. So, keep your plans within the family and a select group of trusted individuals.
15. Try To Stay In Shape
Many preppers are going to find themselves completely exhausted after just one day of disaster. Hiking from place to place, carrying supplies back and forth, repairing damaged roofs or windows, etc. All if it will wear you out fast if you’re not in shape. It’s easier to get in shape than you think. A half hour of power walking a day will make a huge difference.
16. Keep a Stockpile Of Guns And Ammo They Will Keep You Safe
FACT:
You should have guns for self-defense and understand how to use them. However, you need to do your best to avoid confrontation. Learn how to be stealthy and avoid drawing attention to yourself. Your guns cannot protect you from being shot by others who have guns. But they can and will be a big help and deterrent. Learn how to shoot and "operate" your firearm.
17. Have A Plan For Getting Home
Many people forget that disasters don’t wait for you to get home. They can also happen when you’re at work, school, or elsewhere. Do you have a plan for getting home, or a place to meet with the rest of your family?
18. Don’t Make Assumptions About What Will Happen
Some people just assume they’ll have to bug out, while others assume they’ll be able to bug in. But you don’t know what’s going to happen. You have to have a plan A and a plan B. Every prepper needs a backup plan to their backup plan.
19. Test Everything Yourself
Don’t assume your tools will work properly when you need them to. You have to try them out. Also, don’t just store several of the same tool because if that tool ends up not working for you, you might need a different type of tool. As Graywolf Survival says, “Carry redundant capability, not redundant gear.”
20. Take Baby Steps
Some DIY projects are so big and complicated and require so much education beforehand that you really have to be patient. If you try to get it all done in just a few days, you’re going to get frustrated and burned out. Remember, lots of baby steps will quickly add up to a very long way.
21. The End
Of The World Isn’t Tomorrow?
Yes, technically it could be, but odds are it isn’t. And if you always think it is, then you’re liable to panic and make bad decisions. Be prepared, but enjoy all that life has to offer. Don’t become so focused on prepping for doomsday that you forget to enjoy what you have today. And keep in mind that doomsday might never happen.
Gregg Kielma is the owner of "Tactical K Training and Firearms Acadamy", FFL, Gunsmith and Host/Producer of "Grill'in and Gun's TV"
Contact Gregg at 941 737-6956 or 888 880-5444 or email Gregg at kielmagregory@gmail.com
Please see Gregg's credentials below.
FFL (Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer) Gun Store and Gunsmith Shop
USCCA Certified CCW Instructor
USCCA Certified Marksmanship Simplified: Foundations of Handgun Coaching
USCCA Certified Permitless and Constitutional Carry Instructor
USCCA Certified Real Estate Safety Fundamentals Instructor
USCCA Certified Woman and Handguns Fundamentals Instructor
USCCA Certified Home Defense Instructor
USCCA Certified Countering the Mass Shooter Instructor
USCCA Certified Children and Firearms Instructor
USCCA Certified Range Safety Officer
Tactical K Gun Care and Cleaning 101
Tactical K Certified Gunsmith
Tactical K Taser Training Fundamentals
Tactical K Handgun Training
Tactical K Rifle Training
Tactical K Certified Smokeless Range Instructor
Tactical K Certified Laser Ranger Instructor
FFA Professional Drone Pilot
Profession Manager
Gregory A Kielma
Tactical K Training and Firearms Academy
888 880-5444
941 737-6956
kielmagregory@gmail.com

October Gun Sales Surpass 1.3 Million, NSSF Reports Mark Chesnut - After slow sales in July ended the nearly six-year-long streak of firearms sales above 1 million, that sub-1 million figure only lasted for a month. Based on recent sales information, the new 1 million-plus streak has now reached three months. The National Shooting Sports Foundation-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure for October was 1,299,312, up from the September total of 1,091,342. That number marks a slight decrease of 0.3 percent compared to the October 2024 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,302,857. For comparison, the unadjusted October 2025 FBI NICS figure of 2,289,774 reflects a 0.4 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,298,383 in October 2024. The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting out NICS purpose code permit checks and permit rechecks used by states for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases. NSSF started subtracting permit rechecks in February 2016. Mark Oliva, NSSF managing director of public affairs, called the October numbers “encouraging,” as they indicate many are still very interested in acquiring firearms.

Dr. Michael Nance: Another Uninformed Pawn How one of the country’s loudest anti-gun doctors gets data for his anti-gun stories by Lee Williams Michael L. Nance, MD, is a very bus y m an. He is chief of the Division of Pediatric General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery, and director of the Pediatric Trauma Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which is known as “CHOP.” Nance has also been called both an associate and an investigator for CHOP’s Center for Violence Prevention, which is almost violently anti-gun. The Center for Violence Prevention publicly supports wild anti-gun policies such as mandatory child-access laws, universal background checks, strict limits on “assault-style weaponry,” court-ordered firearm storage laws and, of course, more funding for firearm-related research, which of course would be paid directly to the Center for Violence Prevention. Nance has written scores of articles on what he believes are the perils of guns and gun ownership, including 2020’s “Most Mass Shootings Occur Within a Mile of a School or a Place Where Children Live, Learn and Play.” “Firearms are the second leading cause of trauma-related death in children in our Trauma Centers,” Nance said in the news release announcing his work. “Our findings highlight the sheer extent of the problem and show how closely mass shootings are tied to our communities, and especially to the places where children learn and play.” The story, for which Nance was the main author, raises the question of how his group defines a mass shooting. After all, the FBI defines a mass shooting as an event where four or more people are murdered. But Nance’s press release states his team uses a different definition, which they got from a cringe-worthy anti-gun group. “The researchers defined mass shootings as events involving four or more people injured or killed by a firearm in a single setting, using data from the 2019 Gun Violence Archive,” Nance’s story states. The Gun Violence Archive? Their data is bunk—it’s made up. Anything that’s based on the Gun Violence Archive is nothing but complete fiction. Literally, no one who matters uses their data anymore, not since we outed them in 2021. Even the Trace quit citing GVA numbers and created their own database, which isn’t much better. Why would Nance quote the GVA? "Because he doesnt know better"? The Gun Violence Archive, or GVA, was founded in 2013 by Michael Klein, a left-leaning philanthropist and open-government advocate, and Mark Bryant, a retired computer analyst and GVA’s current executive director. According to Bryant’s all-inclusive definition, there were 417 mass shootings in 2019. The FBI says there were 30, because it uses a much more realistic definition. Bryant’s mass-shooting definition—four people were shot—is the same one Nance is using. Still, the overly broad definition didn’t stop the anti-gunners. The Biden administration cited Bryant’s data constantly, as did a bevy of other elected officials and political candidates, at the local, state and federal level.

New York's Next "HUGE MISTAKE" SAF Files Reply Brief Challenging NYC’s Ban on Stun Guns Article by Scott Witner Comment by Gregg Kielma Comment: Gregg Kielma as former NYS state resident who left New York in 1977 I’m ashamed of what this state has become. Says Kielma, the once “I LOVE New York” is a thing of the past. It has become ruled by a tyrannical, socialist state government that is going to continue to send my beloved home state down the toilet. My dear friends, I grew up and went to high school with, PLEASE MAKE A CHANGE in leadership. I’m truly extremely concerned about you. Article Scott Witner: The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has filed a brief reply with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing New York City’s total ban on stun guns violates the Second Amendment. Attorneys for the Second Amendment Foundation and its partners have submitted a reply brief in Calce v. City of New York, a case challenging the city’s complete prohibition on electronic self-defense weapons such as stun guns and Tasers. New York City’s law bars residents from possessing any form of electronic defensive weapon, even though such devices are widely used across the country as a non-lethal means of personal protection. SAF is joined in the lawsuit by five individual plaintiffs and the Firearms Policy Coalition. “Courts across the country have struck down similar bans as unconstitutional,” said SAF Director of Legal Operations Bill Sack. “The District Court upheld New York City’s ban by misapplying the ‘common use’ test, placing it in the wrong part of the analysis and effectively shifting the burden of proof from the government to the plaintiffs. That’s contrary to Supreme Court precedent, and this appeal seeks to correct that.” The brief argues that the lower court’s ruling conflicts with the Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, both of which establish that the right to keep and bear arms includes commonly used self-defense tools.

Florida Man Arrested After Chicken Egg Argument Ends In Gunfire Outside Of Pub Comment by Gregg Kielma Story by Maria Hernandez I talk about this all the time in my CCW training classes says Gregg Kielma. Avoid-Escape- Defend. Never, ever put yourself in a position like the one below. Deescalate, before you find yourself in jail for either murder or attempted murder. Your firearm should be the last resort. A simple argument over eggs and Peter Riera will be going to jail for a very long time. Please use common sense. Never have a firearm on you when alcohol or drugs being used. Let’s Take a LOOK at Maria's article. A late-night debate over how many eggs a chicken can lay escalated dramatically last week, leading to a Florida man allegedly firing a handgun at three other bar patrons. Peter Riera, 44, was arrested after he called 911 following the incident outside a local pub. According to Port St. Lucie Police, the argument started inside the establishment over an agricultural topic—how many eggs a chicken could produce. The conversation became heated and moved to the parking lot as the pub closed. Police allege that Riera, who had been smoking marijuana, became "agitated" and "paranoid," believing the others were trying to con him. Riera reportedly fired four rounds from a .45-caliber Glock at the three patrons, who fled for cover. Fortunately, no one was injured. Riera faces multiple charges, including three counts of attempted aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, four counts of discharging a firearm in public, and one count of use of a firearm while under the influence. He is being held without bond. Police also arrested two of the other individuals involved for obstruction or resisting arrest.

The Complex Smuggling Network TAMPA, Fla. - A Colombian national who masterminded a massive drug trafficking operation that smuggled over 43,000 kilograms of cocaine—valued at approximately $1.3 billion USD—into the United States was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison last week in a Tampa courtroom. According to court documents, Gonzalez-Ortiz established and led the sophisticated drug trafficking organization from 2016 until 2023. The operation relied on a network of corrupt officials and airport personnel to move massive amounts of cocaine disguised in boxes of fruit onto commercial flights. U.S. District Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle handed down the sentence to Jorge Hernan Gonzalez-Ortiz, 49, of Colombia, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States on January 14, 2025. The journey began at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, Colombia. From there, the drug-laden flights were destined for Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés Island, Colombia. The plea agreement details how the conspirators enlisted the aid of at least 20 corrupt Colombian police officers to facilitate the movement of the drugs. Once the cocaine reached San Andrés Island, the corrupt officers assisted in exporting the narcotics out of the airport, which were then smuggled by boat to either Nicaragua or Honduras. From Central America, the cocaine was transported through Mexico and into the United States via land routes. Inside the Operation The organization’s success hinged on key insiders at both airports: ・Airport Security: A security supervisor at the Cali airport was responsible for diverting security cameras away from external gates used to import the cocaine. ・Logistics & Personnel: The network included airport personnel who altered cargo manifests, as well as luggage cart drivers and warehouse employees who were responsible for loading and unloading the cocaine onto and from the commercial aircraft. Between 2016 and 2023, Gonzalez-Ortiz’s organization successfully smuggled cocaine onto at least 27 commercial flights in Cali. The Interception Investigators say the operation began to unravel on July 29, 2023, when Colombian National Police interdicted a shipment of 1,310 kilograms of cocaine after it was offloaded from a commercial aircraft in San Andrés Island. This seizure helped lead to the eventual charges and conviction of Gonzalez-Ortiz in the U.S.

A True Idiot: Lucien Alexandre Crooks Davenport Man’s Florida Keys Vacation Ends In Felony Arrest, Murder Threats Against Deputy Story by Maria Hernandez MONROE COUNTY, Fla. - A Davenport man with a previous felony record was arrested in the Florida Keys late Saturday after a traffic stop escalated into charges involving weapons possession and threats to kill a law enforcement officer and his family. Lucien Alexandre Crooks, 30, faces multiple charges, including possession of a concealed weapon by a convicted felon, resisting arrest, and threatening a law enforcement officer. According to deputies, the incident began at approximately 8:36 p.m. when a Sheriff’s Office Deputy stopped Crooks’ Nissan SUV near Mile Marker 100 on U.S. 1. The initial reason for the stop was Crooks’ failure to move over and slow down for another law enforcement officer who was conducting a separate traffic stop nearby. Upon questioning, the Deputy discovered Crooks was driving without a valid license. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of an open bottle of tequila and a cup containing an alcoholic beverage near the driver’s seat. The situation worsened when a pair of brass knuckles with an attached knife was in Crooks’ pocket. Authorities confirmed that Crooks has two previous felony convictions in Florida, making the possession of such a weapon a serious felony offense. According to the Sheriff’s Office report, the suspect, Lucien Crooks , became volatile upon his arrest. While being transported to jail, Crooks repeatedly threatened to murder the arresting Deputy and his entire family. Bad move Luciferien... lolol you be a dumbass.

Secret Arsenal Shut Down In Florida: Jacksonville Man Gets Four Years For Explosives Cache Story by Maria Hernandez A Jacksonville man, Matthew Reid Davisson, 36, has been sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison for illegally possessing unregistered destructive devices. U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard handed down the sentence after Davisson pleaded guilty on February 18, 2025. The investigation also revealed an unregistered firearm. One of Davisson’s family members surrendered a gun belonging to him, which was later identified as an unregistered machinegun with an unregistered homemade silencer attached to the barrel. Davisson’s arrest stems from an unrelated state charge on October 26, 2023. Following his arrest, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received a tip that Davisson was storing large amounts of chemicals and possible grenades at his Jacksonville residence. A search of the home by law enforcement uncovered a significant cache of illegal materials, including: ・Two improvised explosive bombs ・One improvised explosive grenade ・Parts to readily assemble three additional improvised explosive grenades ・Quantities of homemade high explosives and detonators ・Large volumes of explosive precursor chemicals ・Homemade explosive manufacturing equipment None of these destructive devices were registered to Davisson in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR), a violation of federal law. The investigation also revealed an unregistered firearm. One of Davisson’s family members surrendered a gun belonging to him, which was later identified as an unregistered machinegun with an unregistered homemade silencer attached to the barrel. The case was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the ATF, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the JSO. Assistant United States Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Rachel Lasry prosecuted the case.

Brazilian National Sentenced for Selling Firearms Without a License and Conspiracy Thursday, November 13, 2025 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully living in Milford was sentenced on Oct. 24, 2025 in federal court in Worcester for conspiracy and engaging in the business of selling firearms without a license. Rafaell Martins Ferreira, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Margaret R. Guzman to time-served (approximately 13 months) followed by two years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In July 2025, Martins Ferreira pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. Between February and March 2024, Martins Ferreira sold two firearms to cooperating witnesses without the required license. In addition, Martins Ferreira indicated he had access to additional firearms. One of these firearms included a large capacity magazine (capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition). United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Milford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case. Updated November 13, 2025

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS PENSACOLA MAN FOR SHOOTING AT DEA SPECIAL AGENT Thursday, November 13, 2025 U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Austin James McCastler II, 36, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, attempted prevention of the government’s authority to take property during an authorized search and seizure, assault with a deadly weapon of a Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. John Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the verdict today. US Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplified the extreme dangers faced by the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe from violent criminals. I am incredibly proud of the outstanding trial work by the talented prosecutors in my office that resulted in this successful verdict.” Trial testimony and evidence revealed that, after undercover law enforcement purchased methamphetamine from McCastler’s Pensacola residence on two occasions, a search warrant was obtained to search for and seize illicit narcotics from his home. On March 7, 2025, law enforcement attempted to execute the lawful warrant. McCastler would not comply with orders to surrender to law enforcement, and he armed himself with his American Tactical Imports assault rifle. As law enforcement surrounded the residence, McCastler opened fire, including one shot intended for the DEA Special Agent. McCastler then fled from the residence, jumped in his vehicle, and a high-speed chase ensued. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was immediately on the tail of McCastler and eventually immobilized his vehicle in traffic. McCastler then tried to flee on foot, but law enforcement captured him. A search of his residence ultimately revealed the loaded assault rifle, a second firearm, dozens of rounds of ammunition, fentanyl, and marijuana, amongst other things. McCastler is scheduled for sentencing on February 10, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. McCastler, who has more than five prior state felony convictions, faces up to life imprisonment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html. Contact United States Attorney’s Office Northern District of Florida USAFLN.Press.Office@usdoj.gov X: @USAO_NDFL Updated November 13, 2025

Parrish Man Sentenced To More Than Eleven Years For Firearms Offense U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Jason Peterson (29, Parrish) to 11 years and 5 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Peterson to forfeit the firearms possessed in connection with the offense. Peterson pleaded guilty on June 11, 2025. According to court records, on November 16, 2024, deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a residence in Parrish. The caller stated that Peterson had previously battered her and was in possession of a firearm. Deputies arrested Peterson and recovered a Smith & Wesson handgun and a Bauer handgun from the residence. ATF agents interviewed Peterson after his arrest. Peterson admitted to possessing the Smith & Wesson handgun and knowing that he could not possess a firearm as a convicted felon. During the same interview, Peterson also discussed a Rossi shotgun that his wife had purchased for him at a gun store in Sarasota, which he subsequently sold to another felon. ATF agents subsequently recovered surveillance video showing Peterson in possession of the shotgun in October 2024. Prior to possessing the firearms, Peterson knew he had been convicted of multiple felonies, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and delivery of a controlled substance. As a convicted felon, Peterson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods. NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations. Updated November 14, 2025












