Former NFL receiver Antonio Brown is staring down a far longer prison sentence than initially reported, as new details clarify how Florida’s firearm sentencing rules apply to his ongoing attempted murder case.
Brown, a 12-year league veteran, was widely believed to be facing a maximum of 15 years in prison based on the second-degree attempted murder charge filed against him in Miami.
Under Florida law, a second-degree felony can carry a sentence of up to 15 years. But because prosecutors allege that Brown fired a gun during the incident, the case falls under Florida’s strict “10-20-Life” statute—doubling the potential maximum time behind bars.
As a legal expert breaks down for NBC Sports, the charge is reclassified due to the alleged firearm discharge. That reclassification increases Brown’s maximum sentence to 30 years, with a mandatory minimum of 20 years.
The statute is clear: firing a gun during the commission or attempted commission of certain violent felonies automatically triggers a 20-year minimum term. If convicted, the court cannot sentence below that threshold.
The Florida law—formally outlined in Statute 775.087—was written to increase penalties when a firearm is carried, displayed, used, or discharged during certain offenses, including attempted murder. Under the statute, a second-degree felony involving the discharge of a firearm is elevated to a first-degree felony for sentencing purposes.
The mandatory minimums are equally rigid. As the law states, anyone who “discharged a firearm” during the commission of specified felonies must receive at least 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors allege that Brown fired a weapon at another individual during a dispute at a celebrity boxing event in Miami last May. Brown has claimed the shot was fired in self-defense.
Following the issuance of an arrest warrant, Brown left the country and remained abroad until earlier this month, when he was detained in Dubai and transported back to the United States. He has since entered a plea of not guilty and is currently under house arrest while awaiting trial.
The new sentencing details come ahead of Brown’s formal arraignment, where the scope of the penalties he faces is expected to be read into the record. Prosecutors will likely outline the firearm-related enhancements tied to the 10-20-Life Statute, which mandates that judges impose minimum sentences regardless of mitigating circumstances.
If convicted as charged, Brown cannot receive a suspended or reduced sentence below the statutory minimum. Early release programs and most forms of gain-time eligibility are not applicable under this law.