ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Martez Manning, 27, St. Petersburg, received a 15-year prison sentence for illegally carrying a firearm as a convicted felon. The court imposed an enhanced sentence for Martez Manning because of his previous felony convictions. Manning pled guilty on December 20, 2024.
The indictment specified that on January 2, 2023, Manning possessed a Beretta model 21A Bobcat semiautomatic pistol along with two rounds of CCI 22 Long Rifle ammunition with full awareness.
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Court documents show that Manning had seven felony convictions, which included possession of cocaine and tampering with evidence, alongside five additional charges for selling or delivering cocaine. Federal law forbids a previously convicted felon from owning firearms and ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives collaborated with the St. Petersburg Police Department to investigate this case. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman handled the prosecution of this case.
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