Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jonathan Donte Rogers, Jr. (21, Jacksonville) with possessing a stolen firearm as well as not registering the firearm, which was a short-barreled rifle. If convicted of the offenses, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Rogers that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms and ammunition traceable to the offense (see photo below).
According to court documents, on September 6, 2022, Rogers illegally possessed a stolen short-barreled rifle that belonged to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer. Rogers posted a video of himself possessing the rifle on social media. Possessing a stolen firearm and possessing a short-barreled rifle without properly registering it are violations of federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
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.