Crime
Pensacola Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Weapons and Ammunition Charges
Pensacola, Florida – Jesse Allen Hudson, 43, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession of unregistered firearm.
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PENSACOLA, Fla. — A 43-year-old Pensacola man has formally entered a guilty plea in federal court to two weapons-related offenses, concluding a federal criminal prosecution in the Northern District of Florida.
Jesse Allen Hudson, 43, entered the plea before the U.S. District Court, admitting guilt to two distinct federal counts:
- Count One: Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
- Count Two: Possession of an unregistered firearm.
The charges stem from a January 21, 2026, incident where Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic disturbance complaint at a residence on Winston Street in Cantonment. Upon arrival, deputies learned from the victim that Hudson had charged at her and knocked her to the ground, and that several firearms were missing from the home.
During a subsequent search of the property, deputies discovered an unregistered, multi-caliber short-barreled AR-style rifle with a round chambered, which had been hidden inside a laundry basket within a black trailer parked near the garage. Multiple loaded magazines were also recovered among Hudson’s belongings.
A Lengthy Criminal History
As a convicted felon, Hudson is strictly prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. His booking records reveal a long history of run-ins with local law enforcement across both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, with jail bookings dating back to 2011, 2014, 2015, 2025, and twice in 2026.
According to federal court documents and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hudson’s prior felony convictions include:
- Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
- Resisting an Officer with Violence
- Fleeing to Elude Police
- Destroying or Tampering with Evidence
- Felony Battery (2012 conviction)
“Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state law enforcement partners, and this aggressive prosecution by my office, this violent felon has been taken off our streets and he’ll be kept locked in federal prison where he belongs,” stated John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Community and Public Safety Context
For residents throughout Escambia County and surrounding communities such as Warrington, Brent, and Ensley, the strict enforcement of federal firearms laws represents a critical element of broader public safety strategies. The presence of illicit, unregistered firearms—particularly heavily altered weapons like short-barreled rifles—in the hands of convicted felons poses significant risks to neighborhood stability and local law enforcement officers.
Federal prosecutions in Northwest Florida routinely reinforce local policing efforts carried out by agencies such as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. By bringing severe federal charges against individuals who unlawfully possess unregistered weapons, prosecutors provide an essential mechanism for removing dangerous weapons from local streets.
The Federal Sentencing Process
With Hudson’s formal entry of a guilty plea, the case now moves into the sentencing phase under the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
Hudson faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and up to 10 years for possessing an unregistered firearm. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 19, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.
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