ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A St. Petersburg man was sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison for distribution and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,
Erik Barner, 45, St. Petersburg, entered a guilty plea on October 20, 2023.
According to court documents, on February 22, March 1, and March 10, 2023, Barner sold cocaine to a confidential informant working with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
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Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for a residence and a vehicle that Barner was operating out of. Officers recovered four firearms and various ammunition that had been dispersed throughout the home. In the vehicle, officers found 176 grams of cocaine.
Three of the firearms recovered from the home were later determined to have been reported stolen. Two of the firearms had Barner’s DNA on them.
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Barner has previous felony convictions for possession of cocaine, throwing a deadly missile at or into an occupied vehicle, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and two trafficking in cocaine convictions.
As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
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