Ocala, Florida – -(AmmoLand.com)- United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Kayden James Billings (22, Oxford) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Billings faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, in February 2020, Billings was released from state following three separate convictions. On April 11, 2020, a female companion drove Billings to an Ocala gas station. She ran inside to ask the clerk to summon police because Billings had been battering her and threatening her with a firearm. Two officers from the Ocala Police Department quickly responded and Billings fled from the gas station on foot. As he ran across Pine Avenue, Billings discarded a loaded .45 caliber handgun, along with his driver’s license. Billings surrendered after the pursuing officer caught up with him and threatened to deploy a Taser. The firearm, which had been previously reported stolen in Marion County, was identified by the victim as the same one Billings had used to threaten and batter her.
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 Ocala Police Department. It will be prosecuted by the Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
This case is a part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
#Infringement #AllArmsLawsAreUnconstitutional
OK, how about denying the 2A and other RIGHTS to CONVICTED, not accused, REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS? The down side to this will be akin to red flag orders. I say this because, for instance, there are many lawyers who advise their divorce clients to file “complaints” in an effort to gain for themselves and their clients a better dollar value outcome. There are numerous other scenarios that can also come into play. The point being accusations do not equal convictions. The question then becomes; how many repeat violent offence convictions are to be required to qualify for denied RIGHTS? I… Read more »
DB, you are correct. We either believe in our Constitutionally-protected rights or remain government-controlled drones. Those that disagree with your posts apparently are still unknowingly suffering under the government mind-control.
Heed: Likely a government minded downvoted your comment. Regardless of mentality, it must be known right to arms can be denied from anyone, including themselves, with or without due process.
Nice to see al the Russian Trolls on here advocating for the ability of Violent Criminals to be armed!
AZ, no, we are advocating that USA citizens still have our RKBA as protected and enumerated in our Constitution, “shall not be infringed.”
Our Constitution does not allow us to be punished any further than the sentence for the crime. Revoking our rights is further punishment, and was part of an illegal act passed in 1938, the NFA. It was further enhanced in the 1968 GCA. If belief in our Constitutionally-protected rights makes us Russian Trolls, what does not believing in them make you?
Heed: Another downvote I knocked down for you. It likely from that lefty, A to Z want to be Russian peasant.
Sounds like statist bullshit but ok.
@AzL, You can not get to a proper conclusion because you only have one category.
You should list: Those accused, Unconvicted Violent Criminals, Convicted Violent Criminals paying their debt to society, and former Violent Criminals that have paid their debt to society. You see their is a timeline to the analysis that you have not thought about or are intentionally ignoring.
It appears that those entrusted to run the asylum have let out quite a few inmates. What did they expect to happen? I don’t believe this felon was thinking about joining the militia when it came to possessing a gun or exercising his forfeit 2nd Amendment Rights. Place blame where it belongs: Politicians, bureaucrats and the perp.
Catch and release has no place in society if you’re unarmed.
Verb: forfeit
|for-fit|
Lose (something) or lose the right to (something) by some error, offense, or crime • forfeited property • you’ve forfeited your right to name your successor.
Micheal, re-read USA’s post. You cannot forfeit an inalienable right. Just as Jefferson stated, even without the RKBA enumerated in our Constitution, we would still have it. It is a Natural Right, pre-existing the Constitution and the Law of Man.
We are talking about a released criminal who’s not supposed to posess a gun right? A inalienable right is not in our Constitution, it is in the Declaration of Independence. The 2nd Amendment is the only article/right that isn’t restored to ex-felons, I believe if one had truly paid his debt to society, this right should also be reinstated. However, the cold reality is ex-felons are regulated and unofficially classed as 2nd class citizens. There are two words that have seemed to have lost their meaning: Inalienable and infringed, both come with many government strings and ignored by most but… Read more »
Tripling down on stupid isn’t helping you. The RKBA is our Second Amendment. Only after the NFA – an unconstitutional law – was passed in 1934, did felons become “prohibited” persons. An illegal law does mean it is just because it was passed by Congress and signed by a Socialist president. Our Founding Fathers’ writings and speeches makes it quite clear. Educate yourself on our rights – the government does not grant us our inalienable rights; therefore, they cannot Constitutionally nor otherwise deny us our rights.
Inalienable rights to the outside is just a metaphor that only sounds good on paper. Reality is the polar opposite. I truly believe that I am endowed by My Creator with certain inalienable rights but exercising those rights in a world we live in will tell you otherwise. What God has given, let no man take. And yet here we are.
@MJ, Your opening line presumes a Constitutional fallacy, that was made up in the early 20th Century. Inalienable is a characteristic of all Rights. Although the way the phrase “inalienable right” is used in modern speaking and writing, I can see how you might think it is some particular kind of Right. Ergo, inalienable is in the Constitution as an inherent part of each Right listed in the Bill of Rights. You are correct about restoration of all Rights after one has paid his debt to society, if it were otherwise, every sentence of more than a year would be… Read more »
Yes guys, I do know the government did determine that a felon cannot under normal circumstances have a firearm. They become second class citizens. I am simply pointing out the government is illegal and wrong to charge anyone with a weapon offence. Scripture IS clear and the 2A is also clear; a person of proper age who is not in jail or the loony farm has the RIGHT to keep and bear arms. Once the debit to society is paid in full through time served or community service, that debit is paid. The line we hope NOT to cross is;… Read more »
If you don’t mind too much I am going to call BS on your statement, “The AVERAGE citizen commits THREE FELONIES per day.” Care to cite your source for that statement? Why is it that so many are selling crazy around here? Did I miss the memo or what?
USA: A quick google search came up with this: “Every day, the average American commits three felonies. So argues civil-liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate in his new book “Three Felonies a Day,” the title of which refers to the number of crimes he estimates that Americans perpetrate each day because of vague and overly burdensome laws.” So we have a leftwing lawyer making up some BS. (I’ll leave out any other relevant descriptors) Well hey, let’s quote him as a reliable source. You know they say some people will fall for anything. That’s not how I choose to live my life… Read more »
I;m going to call bullshit on his entire dopey rant…….
RoyD: You do not need to commit all three felonies in one day; a misdemeanor can pretext your subjugation into the official underclass of the prohibited. Your doctor can prescribe subjugation based on comments. Some people can intentionally or unintentionally violate laws; everyone can be entrapped.
Check your memos and avoid “crazy” near doctors.
The actual crime here is assault on the young lady NOT the firearm possession. “The RIGHT of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.’ Yes the guy probably is a dirt bag but the 2A is clear and plain enough that a grade school kid can easily understand it. If you are of proper age and you are NOT in jail or the loony farm, YOU ARE THE MALITIA THE 2A is talking about. Not only do you have the RIGHT to keep and bear arms, you are mandated to keep and bear arms. This is… Read more »
DB: Somehow I think that your idea of a “Well regulated militia” is sorta different than my idea of a “Well regulated militia.”
Idea militias oppose denying inalienable rights.
AMEN
Arm up, carry on.
Sorry, D.B. The Government has determined that convicted felons lose their 2A Right. Along with Voting right and their freedom.
@RF – The government deciding that it is OK for them to decide for you, does not mean that it is OK for them to decide for you. In this and many other cases the governments power is simply what they have taken at muzzle of a rifle.
Ever hear the expression that “might makes right” – that is the argument you are espousing. That argument bears no moral weight and simply demonstrates the despotic nature of those using it.
RF: A felony is unrequired to deny the right of arms from free citizens. The power to deny a right from a free citizen is an insurmountable advantage; the governing has determined.
USA: Those denied the privilege to drive not prohibited from riding or those driving them subject to arrest. Those armed near the prohibited are subject to arrest. The governing use the prohibited like diseases carriers to quarantine contacting from rights
Thanks U.S.A., That is the law/scotus decision and also, the reasoning behind what Jefferson warned us about.
Arm up, carry on.
db, context is key. when the Constitution was written, they usually executed the people who committed those types of crimes because they knew they would continue with their violent ways. with the leftist legislators, lawyers and judges crying about fairness and discrimination they cannot be executed anymore and are released due to prison overpopulation and dumped back on the street. if you are so much in favor of them getting their Second Amendment rights back, please move them move into and terrorize your neighborhood. you “quoted” scripture, but the Bible I read said in the OT, if you shed innocent… Read more »
gregs, violent felons legally obtain firearms? Since the law banning convicted violent felons from legally obtaining, possessing or using firearms is worthless – it is not obeyed by them – what purpose does it serve other than to potentially apply further punishments upon them when they are caught disobeying other laws? I guess, based on your post, it makes you feel better, so there’s that. If the person is such a risk to society, then that person should not be released to prey upon society. We euthanize dogs for less, or we find them another home where they can’t harm… Read more »
gregs: The people responsible for the Constitution were declared armed and dangerous criminals. Type of citizens I like in my neighborhood. Find out how many prohibited in your neighborhood willing to “terrorize.” Anyone in any household can be subjugated into the prohibited underclass.
To Gregs: The LORD says he would that no one should die. Nehemiah 4: 17 refers to workers bearing arms while they work. Luke 22:36 tells us to be armed. The 2A says we have the right and the mandate to keep and bear arms. Maybe those who remain violent should stay in jail? I think so. Between that and those who qualify for the loony farm, those are the only ones that can be denied and this because they are in jail or the loony farm. Once someone has paid their debit to society, it’s paid for, it’s done.… Read more »