Fourteen-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Todd Wade Powers (38, Middleburg) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Powers faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on April 30, 2024, deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a gas station regarding a missing child complaint. While attempting to locate the complainant of the missing child report, the deputies observed a car parked near a gas pump and recognized the license plate affixed to the car as one that had been reported stolen out of Jacksonville. The deputies were able to see that there was an open backpack and a firearm on the passenger seat of the car, as well as a white powdery substance, later identified as cocaine. During a search of the car, the deputies recovered fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, as well as two firearms.

Through the course of their investigation, the deputies linked Powers to the car and Powers later admitted that the firearms and drugs belonged to him. Powers was previously convicted of 14 felonies, including three counts of possession of controlled substances, two counts of felony petit theft, seven counts of sale or delivery of controlled substances, dealing in stolen property, and false verification of ownership on a pawnbroker transaction form. Therefore, he 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 Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

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.