GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A Gainesville man has been sentenced to 14½ years in federal prison after being convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, federal prosecutors announced.
Tyrese Da’jon Jones, 26, received the sentence in federal court, according to U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin of the Northern District of Florida.
Court records show that on July 2, 2025, Jones held a female co-worker at gunpoint inside her vehicle for several hours. When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, Jones fled on foot and pointed a firearm at responding officers before he was apprehended.
At the time of his arrest, Jones was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions involving drugs and firearms.
“This violent career criminal has amply demonstrated that the only way we can stop him from committing further crimes and endangering our community is by keeping him locked behind bars,” Heekin said. “Thanks to the investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, and the aggressive prosecution by my office, that is exactly what we will do. The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and my office will continue to fight hard every day to remove dangerous criminals from our neighborhoods and deliver the crime-free streets our citizens deserve.”
Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott said the incident created a dangerous situation for both the victim and responding deputies.
“On July 2, 2025, Tyrese Jones, a convicted felon who had no business possessing a firearm, held a female victim against her will at gunpoint and then pointed that firearm at responding deputies,” Scott said. “The deputies involved were fortunate to escape without injury and were able to safely take him into custody before anyone was seriously hurt or killed.”
“This was an extremely dangerous situation created by an individual who demonstrated a complete disregard for the law and the safety of others,” Scott added. “Thanks to this federal sentence, a violent offender will remain off our streets and will not be able to threaten our community in the near future.”
The investigation was conducted by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hapner prosecuted the case.