Fort Myers, FL – A North Fort Myers man, Jessie William Korff, 30, has been charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, according to a recent announcement. If found guilty, Korff could face up to 15 years in federal prison.
The incident unfolded when officers from the Fort Myers Police Department responded to a reported hostage situation at a local residence. Upon entering the lanai, officers witnessed a firearm during a confrontation involving a male and female. The male, later identified as Korff, was separated from the female and detained by law enforcement.
During the arrest, officers noticed what appeared to be a bomb on Korff. He spontaneously claimed, “I have bombs.” Along with the firearm, officers observed wires protruding from Korff’s pocket and a suspicious object nearby, accompanied by loaded magazines.
A federal search warrant was subsequently executed on Korff’s vehicle. Inside, agents discovered an AR-style firearm, multiple suspected silencers, ammunition, and a tactical-style vest.
Korff has a criminal history, having been previously convicted on February 19, 2015, of several felonies, including the transfer and possession of a toxin for use as a weapon, smuggling toxins from the United States, and conspiracy to harm individuals in a foreign country. As a result, he is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. It is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
The Department of Justice’s strategy to reduce violent crime, launched on May 26, 2021, enhances PSN by emphasizing community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
