PANAMA CITY — A Panama City man known as “Trigger Tre” has been convicted of being a felon in possession of a loaded .380 caliber pistol, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
A federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida convicted Sammie “Trigger Tre” Underwood III, 22, of being a felon in possession of the firearm Monday, for which he could face 10 years in prison.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, in May 2014, Panama City police officers were on patrol in the Glenwood neighborhood when Underwood, driving a white Chevrolet Tahoe, ran a stop sign. He then led the officers on a chase through the neighborhood. As officers finally approached Underwood’s still-moving vehicle, he jumped out and fled on foot. The driverless vehicle then collided with a residence on East 13th Court.
Under the Tahoe’s driver seat, officers found the loaded firearm and baggies of crack cocaine, bath salts and marijuana. Testimony from Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Laboratory analysts showed that DNA recovered from the firearm matched Underwood.
Underwood faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment during his June 3 sentencing at 9:30 a.m.
Police have said Underwood may be connected to the unsolved slaying of 17-year-old Samuel McGriff in early June of last year. McGriff’s death remains an active investigation.