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Felon Gets Eight Years in Prison for Stolen Firearm Possession: What You Need to Know

Man gets eight years for possessing stolen firearm. He’s a felon. Weapon seized.

byEditorial Staff

September 23, 2025, 7:34 PM

Executive Summary

Michael Lee Stover was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for illegally possessing a stolen firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Stover stole a firearm from a car at a North Fort Myers carwash on April 3, 2025, and the weapon was subsequently located at his residence.

His extensive criminal record, including five prior felony convictions, legally prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

Laws and Precedent

The defendant was sentenced under federal law for illegally possessing a stolen firearm and ammunition, a prohibition specifically applied to convicted felons due to his extensive criminal record, with the court also ordering the forfeiture of the weapon as a standard legal consequence in such federal firearm offenses.

A North Fort Myers man, Michael Lee Stover, 37, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for illegally possessing a stolen firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell handed down the sentence after Stover pleaded guilty on June 12, 2025. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition involved in the offense.

Details of the Offense

Court documents reveal that Stover took a firearm from the hood of another man’s car at a North Fort Myers carwash on April 3, 2025, before fleeing the scene. Deputies later executed a search warrant at Stover’s North Fort Myers residence, where they successfully located the stolen weapon.

Stover’s Criminal History

Stover’s extensive criminal record includes five prior felony convictions, which legally prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. His past offenses include escape from custody and fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, both in 2021. He also has convictions for burglary and aggravated battery from 2011, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription in 2009.

Investigation and Prosecution

The case was a collaborative effort, investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan led the prosecution for the government.

Key Takeaways

This sentencing underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms, particularly those with a history of felony convictions. The outcome reinforces federal laws designed to prevent dangerous weapons from falling into prohibited hands.