BARTOW — Three Polk County men are among 125 suspects statewide facing federal firearms and related charges in an ongoing initiative to reduce violent crime and gun offenses.

Keagan Williams, 27, of Winter Haven, is facing up to 10 years in federal prison after he was arrested in August for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa.

Arrested in November was Kurt Gell, 36, of Bartow, who’s charged with three counts of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and two counts of possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He faces a minimum of five years and up to 100 years in prison if convicted.

Steven Lawrence Moore, 41, of Lakeland, was arrested in November on a single count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The three men were arrested during the first phase of an effort to increase prosecutions of violent crime and firearms offenses. Violations included possession of stolen firearms, robbery, bank robbery and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking or crimes of violence.

Through the initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office partnered with federal, state and local agencies, including the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Winter Haven Police Department, to investigate alleged crimes, the release states.

As a result of the recent initiative, 227 firearms and related ammunition have been confiscated.

Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. Follow her on Twitter @southpolkscene.