A St. Petersburg man has been handed a federal prison sentence for the possession and distribution of controlled substances, as well as for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Erik Barner, aged 45, received a 17-year and 6-month federal prison term from U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday. The charges included distribution and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Barner entered a guilty plea on October 20, 2023.
Court documents revealed that on February 22, March 1, and March 10, 2023, Barner sold cocaine to a confidential informant cooperating with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
aw enforcement secured a search warrant for the residence where Barner operated and his vehicle. During the search, officers discovered four firearms and various ammunition scattered throughout the home.
Inside the vehicle, authorities reportedly found 176 grams of cocaine. Three of the firearms recovered from the residence were identified as stolen, and two had Barner’s DNA on them.
Barner, with previous felony convictions for offenses such as possession of cocaine, throwing a deadly missile at or into an occupied vehicle, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and two trafficking in cocaine convictions, is legally barred from possessing firearms or ammunition as a convicted felon under federal law.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department jointly investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman handled the prosecution, while Assistant United States Attorney James Muench is overseeing the forfeiture process.
