Gun hidden in a bag lands Palmetto man in federal prison, prosecutors say
A Palmetto man will serve time in federal prison after investigators say they found a loaded handgun in his bedroom closet despite his prior felony convictions.
A federal judge sentenced 41-year-old Markis Maxwell to seven years in prison for possession of a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon, according to court records.
The federal sentence will begin after Maxwell finishes a state prison term he is serving for selling controlled substances and fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The sentencing comes after Maxwell previously pleaded guilty to the firearm charge in October, court records show.
An attorney representing Maxwell did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
Deputies find illegally owned gun hidden in closet, prosecutors say
In June 2023, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a 911 call reporting that Maxwell was armed with a handgun during a verbal argument with his significant other, federal prosecutors said.
When deputies arrived, they arrested Maxwell on outstanding warrants tied to unrelated cases involving the sale of cocaine and fentanyl, according to prosecutors. During the investigation, deputies said they found a loaded handgun hidden inside a bag in a bedroom closet.
Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Court records show Maxwell had multiple prior felony convictions including fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, driving with a revoked license as a habitual traffic offender and possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case along with the sheriff’s office.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts and community partnerships.
