Englewood felon Ernest Chambliss faces life in prison for weapons charge

TAMPA -- U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces Tuesday an indictment charging Ernest L. Chambliss, 44, Englewood, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Chambliss has been charged as an armed career criminal and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years up to life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies him the United States intends to seize the firearm used in the offense.

According to the indictment, Chambliss possessed a 9 mm pistol April 16.

Previously convicted of cocaine trafficking, resisting an officer with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer, Chambliss was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

An indictment is a formal charge a defendant has violated one or more federal criminal laws.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory T. Nolan.

This case is prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice's "Project Safe Neighborhoods" Program -- a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Bentley, along with Regina Lombardo, ATF special agent in charge, ATF, is coordinating Project Safe Neighborhoods effort in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF's Frontline strategy to reduce violence.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Englewood felon Ernest Chambliss faces life in prison for weapons charge ."