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.
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 »
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 »
#Infringement #AllArmsLawsAreUnconstitutional
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.
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 »
Nice to see al the Russian Trolls on here advocating for the ability of Violent Criminals to be armed!