Tampa man charged with drug and firearms possession and faces 20 years in prison

TAMPA, Florida. – Joshua Black, 38, of Tampa, has been charged with multiple counts, including distribution of cocaine, possession of firearms as a convicted felon and possession of illegal firearm modifications.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

The indictment alleges that Black distributed cocaine from a Tampa residence between February and March 2024.

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According to the indictment and criminal complaint, between February and March 2024, Black distributed cocaine from a residence in Tampa.

On April 10, 2024, law enforcement officers with the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence. In Black’s bedroom, officers found a 9mm “Freedom Ordinance” pistol, a “Zastava Arms” AK-47 pistol, a bulletproof vest, a silencer, a machine gun switch that had the ability to convert firearms into machine guns, and several items indicative of drug trafficking including glass bowls and plates containing crack cocaine, individually wrapped bags of marijuana, crack cocaine, two digital scales, and $30,000 in cash hidden inside a hollowed-out book.

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This investigation was conducted by the Tampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

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