Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Malachi Deloch (23, Tampa) was sentenced to four years and seven months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Deloch had pleaded guilty on June 14, 2022. He was also ordered to forfeit the semi-automatic pistol used in the offense.
According to court documents, on February 7, 2022, Deloch, a convicted felon, was in possession of multiple firearms, including a black Springfield XD 9mm with an extended magazine. As a convicted felon, Deloch is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. As pictured below, Deloch was seen openly carrying the firearm in a residential area of Tampa. Prior to his arrest, Deloch fled from Tampa Police Department officers that had arrived on the scene.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.