Orlando, FL – Lee Ann Roberts, a 43-year-old resident of Altamonte Springs, has been sentenced to five years and 11 months in federal prison for firearm-related offenses. U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger delivered the sentence after Roberts was found guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and having unregistered machine guns and silencers. The court has also mandated the forfeiture of all related firearms, machine guns, silencers, and ammunition.
The investigation began when the Altamonte Springs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received a tip about Roberts allegedly selling firearms, machine guns, silencers, and grenade launcher parts from a hotel room in Altamonte Springs. Authorities tracked down Roberts and discovered a vehicle containing a hunting rifle, two AR-platform receivers, three silencers, tactical gear, vests, magazines, and hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunition. The AR-platform receivers had been altered to enable fully automatic firing, classifying them as machine guns under federal law.
Further examination of Roberts’s phone revealed evidence of her involvement in the sale or attempted sale of multiple firearms, including those found in her vehicle. As a convicted felon, Roberts is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law, and none of the machine guns or silencers were registered to her as required by the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Altamonte Springs Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan. This effort is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, and implementing strategic enforcement priorities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, to enhance the effectiveness of PSN initiatives.
