Crime & Safety
'Prolific Offenders' Face Jail Time For Weapons Charges, 'Mocking System'
One Bradenton man has been arrested 51 times but has never been to state prison.
Two "prolific offenders," including a Bradenton man who has 51 arrests on his record but has never been to state prison, are facing federal weapons charges following a grand jury indictment, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.
David P. Lawrence, 26, and Mark Alan Finehout, 37, of Sarasota, were each indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announced.
Lawrence, who is also charged with possessing with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, was arrested by Sarasota authorities during "Operation Red Flag" in May.
“These convicted felons were not only mocking the system locally but they were violating federal weapons laws,” said Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight in a media release. “Sarasota County is safer today, because of the diligence of our deputies and the partnerships we have forged with state and federal law enforcement agencies.”
A joint investigation with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives helped lead to Lawrence's arrest, officials said.Lawrence could be facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life in federal possession and a mandatory minimum of 10 years for the narcotics offense, sheriff's spokesperson Wendy Rose said.
Finehout could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
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