Fort Myers Man Charged With Federal Firearm Offense

Fort Myers, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Keith Dewayne Drayton, Jr. (23, Ft. Myers) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Drayton faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, on May 15, 2019, Drayton illegally possessed a firearm. Due to his prior state conviction for unlicensed carrying of a concealed firearm, Drayton is prohibited from carrying a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case is part of Operation Triple Beam (OTB), a U.S. Marshals-led 90-day operation to reduce violent gang crime. OTB was designed to target and arrest violent fugitives and criminal offenders who committed high-profile crimes such as homicide, felony assault and sexual assault, illegal possession of firearms, illegal drug distribution, robbery and arson. The operation concluded on August 1, 2019, and resulted in 120 arrests.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

The operation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, along with the Fort Myers Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Cape Coral Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  This will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.