FORT MYERS, Florida — Jose Manuel Caraballo-Torres, a 39-year-old from Fort Myers, has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Caraballo-Torres pleaded guilty on February 25, 2026, according to U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. The incident leading to his arrest occurred on September 27, 2025, when a deputy from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office observed a speeding truck on State Road 31 in Punta Gorda. During the traffic stop, the deputy detected the smell of marijuana and asked the passengers, including Caraballo-Torres, to exit the vehicle for officer safety.
While conducting a pat down, the deputy noticed Caraballo-Torres moving his hand toward his waistband. The deputy then restrained Caraballo-Torres and retrieved a firearm from his waistband, which was later reported stolen from Orlando. Caraballo-Torres was on federal supervised release until 2032 related to a case from the District of Puerto Rico, according to court documents…