TAMPA, Fla. – A federal jury in Tampa has convicted 40-year-old Shannon Pernell Brown on charges of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced this week.
The verdict follows a 2024 incident where a traffic stop escalated into a pursuit and a significant recovery of contraband.
The evidence presented during the trial detailed an encounter on August 31, 2024, when Tampa Police Department officers attempted to pull Brown over for a traffic violation. Brown, who was riding an electric bicycle at the time, tried to flee from the scene.
The chase ended shortly after when Brown lost control of the bike while rounding a corner and crashed.
Upon detaining him, officers searched a backpack Brown was wearing and discovered over a pound of marijuana divided into multiple packages, alongside a digital scale. A separate satchel worn across his chest contained a loaded Glock handgun.
Federal law strictly prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Brown’s criminal record includes multiple past felony offenses, specifically trafficking in cocaine and two separate instances of possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver.
Due to these prior convictions, Brown is being prosecuted under the Armed Career Criminal Act. This federal statute carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for September 3, 2026.
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