Antonio Brown’s legal situation is far more severe than initially reported.
The former NFL star was widely believed to be looking at a maximum of 15 years behind bars after being charged with second-degree attempted murder in Miami, but legal experts familiar with Florida’s criminal statutes say the reality is significantly harsher.
Because prosecutors claim Brown fired a gun during the confrontation at a Miami celebrity boxing event in May 2025, the case falls under Florida’s 10-20-Life statute. That law significantly increases penalties for discharging a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.
As a result, Brown’s charge is prosecuted at the level of a first-degree felony, raising his potential prison term to as much as 30 years and locking in a mandatory minimum of 20.
Brown maintains he acted in self-defense during the dispute. After a warrant was issued, he left the country, which sparked an international search that ended when authorities located him in Dubai and returned him to the United States earlier this month.
He has since entered a not guilty plea and has been placed on house arrest while awaiting trial. His upcoming arraignment is expected to spell out the full extent of the sentencing exposure now tied to the case.