A federal jury has convicted 37-year-old Alphonso Gainer of North Miami on kidnapping and multiple firearm charges stemming from a 2023 home invasion that prosecutors described as a near-fatal attack.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Gainer broke into the victim’s North Miami home around 6 a.m. on July 11, 2023, and opened fire, nearly killing the victim. A 911 call recorded during the incident captured Gainer firing three more rounds as the victim tried to take cover.
“This victim endured unimaginable fear and terror in his own home,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Thanks to the courage of the victim and the swift work of law enforcement, justice was delivered. We will never relent in pursuing those who use guns to threaten, harm, or intimidate others.”
Officers responded within minutes, but Gainer escaped before they arrived. Hours later—after police had cleared the scene—Gainer returned, kidnapped the victim at gunpoint, and forced him into his rental vehicle. The victim managed to escape unharmed and photographed the license plate, allowing law enforcement to trace the vehicle back to Gainer.
Investigators later recovered a firearm from Gainer’s residence that matched shell casings found at the scene.
The jury found Gainer guilty of one count of kidnapping and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the kidnapping charge and up to 15 years for each of the firearm counts. A federal judge will determine his sentence at a later date.
U.S. Attorney Reding A. Quiñones and ATF Miami Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz announced the verdict. The ATF Miami Field Office is leading the investigation with assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Mikulic and Altanese P. Phenelus are prosecuting the case.
