Deonte Deangelo Hill, a 33-year-old resident of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “This serial offender has demonstrated that the only way our community can be kept safe from his criminal behavior is by keeping him incarcerated in federal prison. Thanks to the excellent work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, and this successful prosecution by my office, that is exactly where he will remain. The residents of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live in safe communities, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute violent offenders like this defendant to deliver that safety.”
According to court documents, on September 21, 2024, Hill discharged an AK-47-style rifle into the air at the Griffin Heights Apartment Complex parking lot in Tallahassee. Police located both Hill and his vehicle at another nearby apartment complex after he fled on foot. Officers recovered an AK-47-style rifle from the driver’s floorboard where Hill had been sitting and found a photograph of the firearm on his cellphone.
Hill has two prior federal convictions: one from 2012 for distributing cocaine—resulting in a 15-month sentence—and another from 2017 for possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone and cocaine base—for which he served an 84-month sentence. His state convictions include possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement.
Upon release from prison, Hill will be subject to five years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Tallahassee Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also reminds residents about its Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy and encourages everyone to lock their car doors at night since unlocked vehicles are often sources for criminals obtaining firearms in northern Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 principal litigation offices under direction from the Attorney General nationwide. More information about public court documents can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or through http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
