A Tampa man has been indicted for possessing an AK-47 pistol, silencer, machinegun switch and cocaine.
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging 38-year-old Joshua Black, of Tampa, with several counts of distribution of cocaine, possession of firearms after having been convicted of a felony offense, and possession of an unregistered silencer and machinegun switch.
If convicted of all counts, Black faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment and criminal complaint, between February and March 2024, Black distributed cocaine from a residence in Tampa. On April 10, 2024, law enforcement officers with the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence.
In Black’s bedroom, law enforcement found a 9mm “Freedom Ordinance” pistol, a “Zastava Arms” AK-47 pistol, a ballistic vest, a silencer, a machinegun switch which had the ability to convert firearms into machineguns, and various items indicative of drug trafficking, including glass bowls and plates containing crack cocaine, individually wrapped marijuana bags, crack cocaine, two digital scales, and $30,000 in cash hidden inside a hollowed out book.
This investigation was led by the Tampa Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
