Gaston County Man Is Charged With Firearms Offense

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte federal grand jury has returned a criminal indictment charging Keon Montrese Floyd, 32, of Gastonia, N.C. with possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Andrew Murray U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

According to information contained in the indictment, on or about February 15, 2020, in Gaston County, Floyd, knowing that he had previously been convicted of at least one crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess a firearm, that is, a Taurus TCP, model PT 738, .380 caliber pistol, in and affecting commerce.

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 and implemented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon past successful federal programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell and Cleveland County District Attorney Mike Miller for their offices’ collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to identify state cases such as Floyd’s that can be prosecuted federally.

U.S. Attorney Murray also commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kings Mountain Police Department, and the Gastonia Police Department for their investigation of this case.

Floyd is currently in federal custody. The maximum penalty for the felon in possession of a firearm charge is 10 years in prison.

The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Assistant United States Attorneys William Bozin and Christopher Hess, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, are prosecuting the case.