GAINESVILLE, FL – A Gainesville man with multiple prior felony convictions has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm, federal prosecutors announced this week.
According to U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin of the Northern District of Florida, Tyrese Da’Jon Jones, 26, admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm after fleeing from deputies during a July 2, 2025, encounter outside a restaurant. Jones, who was prohibited from having a gun due to prior felony convictions, dropped a fully loaded pistol while running from law enforcement.
Authorities said Jones later confessed to pulling the firearm while fleeing and admitted to recently using MDMA. He has five prior felony convictions across two states, including a previous conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Federal prosecutors praise joint law enforcement work
“This violent felon is now off our streets thanks to excellent police work and a successful federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Heekin. “Through Operation Take Back America, we’re delivering on our promise to aggressively prosecute repeat offenders and keep our neighborhoods safe.”
The investigation was conducted by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hapner.
Sentencing for Jones is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 10 a.m. before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville.
Key points:
- Tyrese Da’Jon Jones, 26, pleaded guilty to firearm possession as a convicted felon.
- Jones dropped a loaded pistol while fleeing deputies in Gainesville on July 2, 2025.
- He faces sentencing April 28, 2026, under the federal Operation Take Back America initiative.
Federal initiative targets violent offenders
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice program aimed at combating violent crime, drug trafficking, and illegal firearms possession nationwide. Prosecutors urged residents to help curb gun thefts by locking their vehicles at night, noting that firearms stolen from unlocked cars remain a major source of illegal weapons in the Northern District of Florida.
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Jones will be sentenced in April as federal prosecutors continue their push against repeat violent offenders.