LEE COUNTY, Fla. – A Fort Myers man with an extensive criminal history has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
Carl Samuel Thompson Jr., 60, received the enhanced sentence due to his prior convictions, which include at least three violent felonies. He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 30, 2024.
According to court records, Thompson was pulled over by Lee County Sheriff’s deputies on April 7, 2024, for a traffic infraction. During the stop, deputies discovered that Thompson’s passenger was concealing a loaded firearm.
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Further investigation revealed that Thompson, who had an active warrant for his arrest, had given the firearm to his passenger to hide when he realized he was being stopped. As a convicted felon with a history of violent crimes, Thompson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth prosecuted the case.
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