PLANT CITY, Fla. – A 24-year-old Plant City man will spend the next two and a half years in federal prison after being caught with a modified handgun capable of fully automatic fire.
U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell handed down the 30-month sentence to Alex Cruz following his March 3, 2026, guilty plea for possessing a machine gun. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the sentencing on Tuesday.
The case stems from a February 2025 traffic stop in Hendry County. Deputies pulled over a vehicle carrying Cruz and three other individuals. During the stop, investigators discovered a 10mm Glock handgun stashed in a seatback pocket directly in front of Cruz…