Former NFL star wide receiver antonio brown He could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of attempted murder, if the gun was allegedly used, a prosecutor said Monday.
Brown appeared via video at a brief arraignment hearing in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, in which his attorney, Mark Eiglersh, reiterated that Brown has already entered a not guilty plea. He was released from jail last week on $25,000 bond and required to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
Attempted murder charges in Florida carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison in many cases. But Assistant State Attorney Stephanie Cruz said that because Brown allegedly used a gun, he could face double the punishment behind bars due to the increased gun sentence. The law also provides for a possible minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years upon conviction.
Brown, 37, did not speak during the hearing. Judge Marissa Tinkler-Mendez has tentatively set a hearing for Dec. 22. No hearing date has been set.
According to arrest warrants, Brown is accused of snatching a handgun from a security guard after a celebrity boxing match in Miami on May 16 and firing two shots at a man with whom he had previously fought. Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu told investigators that a bullet grazed his neck.
Iglarsch had said at a previous hearing that the affidavit was false and that Brown had actually used his personal gun, and that the shots were not aimed at anyone. Brown has said on social media that he was defending himself from an attack and that others were trying to steal jewelry from him.
Brown spent 12 years in the NFL and was an All-Pro wide receiver who last played for Tampa Bay in 2021, including a Super Bowl championship with quarterback Tom Brady. He spent most of his career with Pittsburgh. During his career, Brown had 928 receptions for over 12,000 yards and a total of 88 touchdowns including punt returns and one pass.
Brown was extradited last week from Dubai, where he has business interests, after an arrest warrant was issued in June on attempted murder charges.
