Evergreen Reporter

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Antonio McCray, 22, of Tampa, to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense. McCray pleaded guilty on November 14, 2023.

According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, McCray was a member of the "2x" gang in Hernando County. In September and October 2022, McCray planned to carry out a murder against a rival gang member. He told his fellow gang members, “I’m tryna do these f*** [dudes] so dirty…we getting them tonight…I’m [going] to shoot his a**.” On at least two occasions, McCray and his associates went to a residence in Hernando County, surrounding the house and shooting at the windows, front door, and back sliding door. Two minor children were present during the shooting incidents, with bullets entering the room of a 9-year-old girl.

On October 29, 2022, detectives from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle where McCray was seated in the back seat. He was found in possession of a Hellcat Pistol. DNA evidence linked McCray to the firearm, and shell casings recovered from one of the shootings matched those fired from the Springfield firearm he possessed. At that time, McCray had multiple prior felony convictions including burglary of a conveyance while armed (six counts) and dealing in stolen property. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

Further investigation revealed text messages on McCray's phone where he threatened individuals over drug debts: “Listen bra if u care about ur son an ur grandma have my money by Thursday…or I’m coming for u and ur family…I’ll be at ur house tonight…Im torture ur grandma, u don’t know who u playing with.”

This case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021.