Tampa Gang Member Pleads Guilty To Firearms Offenses

TAMPA, FL — A 25-year-old Tampa gang member has pleaded guilty to lying to a federally licensed firearms dealer when he attempted to purchase a gun.

Gabriel Antonio Thompkins II also pleaded guilty to possessing firearms and ammunition. He faces a maximum of five years in federal prison on the false statement charge and up to 10 years in prison for possession of firearms.

According to the plea agreement, Thompkins was a member of the Grant Park neighborhood gang in Tampa.

On Nov. 17, 2017, Thompkins fled the scene of a shooting in Tampa, driving away in a car at a high rate of speed. He then crashed into a pole and fled on foot as Tampa police officers pursued him.

The officers found Thompkins hiding under a house.

On Dec. 18, 2017, Thompkins pleaded guilty to the felony charge of fleeing to elude in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Hillsborough County.

Then, while on parole Dec. 8, 2019, Thompkins went to Shoot Straight Tampa store and gun range and attempted to purchase a .45-caliber pistol. He filled out a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives form stating he'd never been convicted of a felony.

When Shoot Straight Tampa conducted a background check, it discovered Thompkins' felony conviction and refused to sell him a gun and reported his attempt to police, which put out a warrant for his arrest.

On Jan. 11, 2020, Tampa police attempted to pull over a car Thompkins was driving. He sped away and then eluded police on foot. Police found a backpack found in the car that contained 170 grams of marijuana. They also found pistol in the car.

Oct. 6, law enforcement officials executed arrest and search warrants at Thompkins’s home in Tampa. Inside his bedroom they found a loaded stolen .40-caliber handgun. They also recovered a another loaded stolen firearm from a shed.

Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department.