Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, a 27-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted on federal charges for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The charge was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Smith-Carter appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville for his arraignment. His jury trial is set for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If convicted, Smith-Carter could face up to 15 years in prison.
The investigation into this case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case.
“An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” according to the press release.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative that uses resources from the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration and target violent crime connected to cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also urges residents to lock their car doors at night due to burglaries from unlocked vehicles being a significant source of firearms for criminals in northern Florida.
For additional information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida or access to public court documents online, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
