U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Antonio McCray, a 22-year-old Tampa resident, to 15 years in federal prison, the maximum sentence allowed by law, for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
McCray, a member of the "2x" gang in Hernando County, pleaded guilty to the charge in November.
Evidence presented in court revealed a disturbing pattern of violence orchestrated by McCray.
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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, telling his rival 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 fellow gang members went to a residence in Hernando County, ultimately surrounding the house and shooting the windows, front door, and back sliding door. Two minor children were present at the time of the shooting, and bullets came through the window of a 9-year-old girl’s room.
McCray was arrested during a traffic stop on October 29, 2022, when law enforcement discovered a Hellcat Pistol in his possession.
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McCray’s phone later revealed additional text messages in which he was threatening individuals who owed him a drug debt, telling people; “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.”
His prior felony conviction prohibited him from possessing firearms, leading to the federal charges.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.
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