Pensacola Man Sentenced To 76 Months In Federal Prison For Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A Pensacola man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison
after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The 76-month sentence handed
down to Charleston Pierre Wiggins, 32, of Pensacola, was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

On April 29, 2019, Pensacola Police Department (PPD) responded to a shots fired report in
Pensacola, Florida. As a result of its investigation, PPD learned that Wiggins, a convicted felon,
and another individual with whom he had a dispute, exchanged gunfire. During the exchange, Wiggins
was shot in the leg. The PPD officers who located Wiggins followed a blood trail that led them to
the pistol witnesses saw Wiggins carrying as he attempted to flee the area. The officers determined
that the firearm, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, was stolen.

“We will vigorously prosecute those whose actions recklessly endanger the public,” U.S. Attorney
Keefe said. “This convicted felon chose to arm himself with a firearm and now he will pay the heavy
consequences for his actions.”

The case resulted from the investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney J. Ryan Love.

“Reducing violent crime and protecting the public in the communities that we serve is a priority
for ATF”, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary, “we will continue to work vigorously with
our law enforcement partners to make sure those individuals who commit violent crimes are
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce
gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of
2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence;
enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and
prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied
by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures
that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case with support from Project Guardian
partners, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/attorney-general-announces-launch-project-guardian-nationwide-strategic-plan-reduce-gun.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District
of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the
history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.