Tallahassee Man Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison For Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Troy M. Hill, 43, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison following his conviction on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play a vital role in fighting crime and protecting the public,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence, of a habitual armed career criminal, is another example that working jointly with our partners continues to make our community safer.”

Hill was convicted by a federal jury in December 2022. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that on February 16, 2021, Hill was arrested by the Tallahassee Police Department and was found by the arresting officers to be in the possession of a firearm.

Hill was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his numerous felony convictions for crimes of violence and serious drug offenses. 

“Every day officers put their lives on the line to curb violent crime in our community,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “This sentencing and the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement and judicial partners sends a message to the community that those who perpetrate crimes in our community will be held accountable.  It also highlights the importance of joint programs like Project Safe Neighborhood which are vital in enhancing the safety of everyone in the community.”

Hill’s imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release.

“This is a great example of combining ATF’s expertise in federal firearm laws with the talent of the Tallahassee Police Department,” said Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard, ATF Tampa Field Division. “Partnerships like this are the backbone of how we help keep communities safe.”

The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Tallahassee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.