Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than Five Years For Possession Of A Firearm

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Deanthony Flowers (36, Lakeland) to five years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Flowers pleaded guilty in February 2025.

According to court documents, on July 12, 2023, officers with the Lakeland Police Department pulled over the vehicle Flowers was driving. Flowers was the sole occupant of the automobile. As the officers approached the vehicle, they observed a firearm wedged between the seats. Officers later determined that the firearm, a Glock Model 31, Gen 4 .357 pistol with a loaded magazine, had been reported stolen. At the time, Flowers had multiple prior felony convictions, including failure to register as a career offender, burglary and grand theft, felony battery, attempted robbery, and armed burglary. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lakeland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James Muench.

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.