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Federal Jury Finds St. Pete Man Guilty of Armed Drug Trafficking

Robert Christopher Sunmonu | US Attorney | Crime

At the time of the incident, he had multiple prior felony convictions and is therefore barred from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law, according to the U.S. attorney.

TAMPA – A federal jury today (Jan. 9) founda St. Petersburg man guilty of charges that included armed drug trafficking, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida said.

Robert Christopher Sunmonu, 22,  of St. Petersburg, was found guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Sunmonu faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

Sunmonu was indicted Sept. 24.

According to testimony presented at trial, on Aug. 2, officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department tried to stop Sunmonu, who was driving a stolen car. Instead of stopping, Sunmonu fled and led officers on a chase through St. Petersburg, ending in an apartment complex, where Sunmonu then fled on foot.

Sunmonu jumped a concrete wall and was trying to hop a fence when an officer grabbed him. Sunmonu continued to try and break free as a second officer pried Sunmonu from the fence and got him to the ground. As officers tried to gain control of Sunmonu’s hands, he resisted and reached for his waist.

The officers eventually handcuffed Sunmonu and found a loaded firearm in his pants pocket. In retracing Sunmonu’s steps, the officers recovered trafficking amounts of crack cocaine, marijuana, and Xanax.

At the time of the incident, Sunmonu had multiple prior felony convictions. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

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