Crime & Safety

30 Guns, Body Armor, Drugs Taken From St. Pete Home

Officials found 30 firearms, including a fully automatic rifle, two sawed-off shotguns and handguns, along with survival gear, cocaine and marijuana at a tattoo shop owner's home in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

Jason Deon Thomas, 31, of St. Petersburg was arrested Thursday morning after police say they found 30 guns, drugs, survival gear and cash inside his home in the 2200 block of 37th St. N.

The St. Petersburg Police Department and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), conducted a joint investigation after receiving a tip about Thomas allegedly selling drugs.

Investigators found 30 guns, including a fully automatic rifle, two sawed-off shotguns, several assault weapons, semi-automatic rifles and handguns, according to a news release.

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Thomas' business, JT's The Perfect Tattoo Shop on 34th Street North, was also searched but only boxes of ammunition were found. 

Police also took possession of one suppressor, numerous C- magazines (each one holds one-hundred rounds of ammunition), several bullet resistant vests, one Kevlar body suit, including kneepads and bullet-resistant armbands. They also recovered bullet-resistant helmets and gas masks, numerous survival knives, bug out bags, survival books, and several large boxes of ammunition.

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According to the police report, 9.5 grams of powder cocaine, 216 grams of marijuana and $7,390.00 in cash was also recovered.

"This is a significant arrest that began with a tip from a concerned citizen. This case clearly reinforces the notion that law enforcement needs the public's support to get drug dealers and illegal firearms off the street," said St. Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Harmon in a news release.

Thomas has been charged federally and made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon, in Tampa, according to St. Petersburg Police.

According to jail records, Thomas is a convicted felon. In 2001, he was charged with Armed Trafficking MDMA, Trafficking in Phenethylamines, Felony Possession of Marijuana and Possession of LSD. In 2012, he was charged with Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams.


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