Career Criminal Sentenced To Over 13 Years In Federal Prison For Possession Of Firearms

Ocala, Florida –Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II today sentenced Shane Lamar Harris (41, Dunnellon) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Harris had pleaded guilty on January 23, 2020.

According to court documents, City of Ocala police officers stopped Harris in his car for several traffic infractions on January 27, 2018. During a search of the car, the officers recovered small bags of cocaine and marijuana, a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat, and a stolen shotgun in the back of the automobile. A subsequent laboratory analysis conclusively showed Harris’s DNA on the firearms. Harris’s previous convictions, including numerous drug sales, qualified him for a sentencing enhancement as an Armed Career Criminal. As a convicted felon, Harris is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the City of Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ATF. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.