OCALA, FL. – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II today sentenced Jonathan Cruz Carino (28, Ocala) to two and a half years in federal prison for possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Carino had pleaded guilty on June 22, 2020.
According to court documents, on May 10, 2019, City of Ocala police officers responded to a call concerning a potential shooting. Upon arrival, they located Carino and a juvenile in a wooded area adjacent to a boat. A search of the boat revealed two loaded handguns concealed under a tarp. The juvenile told authorities that Carino had been trying to sell the firearms. The FBI laboratory subsequently confirmed a substantial DNA profile from Carino on one of the firearms. Carino has previous state felony convictions for drug possession and the sale of drugs near a place of worship. As a consequence, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was jointly investigated by the City of Ocala Police Department and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.