Northern District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Man Caught in Florida with over 100 Kilos of Marijuana Faces Federal IndictmentRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – James Craig, 46, of Mokena, Illinois, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge.
Craig appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Craig faces between 5 years’ to 40 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Gulf Breeze Man Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Brock A. Westrom, 36, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark E. Walker to 48 months in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Sexual predators, like this defendant, are relentless in their pursuit of children online, who they intend to sexually exploit and victimize, but our state and federal law enforcement partners are unified in their commitment to identify and stop those sick individuals before they can harm our kids. My office will continue to back up the outstanding investigative work of our law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions to keep these sexual deviants behind bars and away from our communities.”
Evidence at trial demonstrated that in July 2024, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, along with other law enforcement partners, conducted an undercover operation, directed at finding people who were soliciting minors online for sex. On July 19, 2024, the defendant began talking with someone he believed was a fifteen-year-old child. He told the purported child the sexual acts he wanted the child to perform, the price he was willing to pay for those sexual acts, and then arranged a meeting location. The defendant traveled to meet the purported child at the agreed upon location, and he was arrested by law enforcement when he arrived. Electronic evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant confirmed the defendant had, in fact, talked to the person he believed was a child and traveled to meet them.
After serving his term of imprisonment, Westrom will have to register as a sexual offender and be subject to five years of supervised release.
“If you think you can use the internet to target a child and walk away without consequences, you're making the biggest mistake of your life,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will work with our state and federal partners to ensure you face every consequence the law allows. Let this sentence serve as a warning: if you come to Bay County looking to exploit a child, you won't find a victim, you'll find deputies waiting to put you in handcuffs.”
“This predator’s vile efforts to exploit and target a child for sexual purposes are reprehensible and will not be tolerated in our community,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “HSI is unwavering in our commitment to protecting children and holding predators fully accountable for their actions. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who seek to harm minors face the full force of justice.”
“Individuals who travel to exploit children will find no safe haven here,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively investigate these crimes and stop children from being exploited. If you travel to our community to target minors know that we will find you.”
This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith L. Steer and Eric W. Welch.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former Gymnastics Coach and Social Media Content Creator Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Theresa Mitchell, 44, formerly of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to produce and distribute child pornography, two counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, between 2023 and 2025, Theresa Mitchell conspired with Christopher Buckeridge to produce and sell images of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Mitchell sold and distributed those images and videos to customers on social media platforms, messaging applications, and subscription-based websites. Buckeridge also sent Mitchell hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including material that depicted the sadistic sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Ultimately, Mitchell received hundreds of thousands of dollars from selling images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
On March 17, a federal magistrate judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Mitchell and Buckeridge. Mitchell was arrested by federal agents in central Pennsylvania on March 19 and remains in custody.
Mitchell faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the child pornography production and conspiracy counts. Mitchell also faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the child pornography receipt and possession counts, as well as the money laundering conspiracy count. If convicted, Mitchell will be required to pay restitution to her victims and to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). A U.S. district judge will determine Mitchell’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John “Jack” P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley of the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingengo of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
The case is being jointly investigated by HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the FBI. Trial Attorney Eduardo Palomo of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Dawaun Shunard Jackson, 40, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison for one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of penalties for registered sex offenders. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This predator has clearly shown from his repeated crimes that the only way we can guarantee the safety of our children from his continued sexual deviance is by keeping him locked away in federal prison. My office is happy to oblige, and he’ll spend the next two decades behind bars. I deeply appreciate the excellent, collaborative work of the Tallahassee Police Department and the FBI to identify and stop offenders, like this defendant, from harming our kids, and my office will back up their great work with aggressive prosecutions to keep those sexual predators off our streets.”
Court documents reflect that between November 20 and 22, 2025, the Tallahassee Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies, conducted an undercover operation focused on identifying individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, an undercover officer posed as a 15-year-old girl and posted an ad on a website known for the solicitation of escorts. Court records show that the defendant responded to the ad and believed that he was communicating with a minor child, and that the defendant offered money in exchange for sex with the child and arranged to meet in Tallahassee. Further investigation that the defendant was a registered sex offender. After the defendant was arrested, his cell phone was seized as evidence, and a subsequent search of the device confirmed that he communicated with the undercover officer who posed as a 15-year-old girl.
After serving his term of 20 years’ imprisonment, Jackson will have to serve a lifetime term of supervised release. He will also have to continue registering as a sexual offender.
“Children should never become the target of someone seeking to exploit them,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Our investigators work alongside our federal partners every day to identify offenders, intervene before they can harm a child, and hold them accountable. This sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.”
“Predators who target children should know there is no place to hide,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Protecting children from sexual exploitation remains one of the FBI’s highest priorities. The FBI, alongside our partners, will use every resource available to identify, investigate and bring child predators to justice.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Tallahassee Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Jury Convicts Tallahassee Man of Attempting to Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Raymond Lewis Shiver, 36, of Crawfordville, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners, my office was able to deliver a successful prosecution to ensure this defendant will be held accountable for his attempts to sexually exploit a child. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting these horrific crimes to do everything in our power to keep our kids safe, both in our communities and online.”
Trial testimony demonstrated that from April 10-12, 2025, federal, state, and local law enforcement executed an undercover online chat operation designed to catch individuals who use the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, several fictitious ads were posted by law enforcement on websites commonly used for prostitution, and the defendant responded to one of the ads. In his text messaging with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a 15-year-old child, the defendant expressed interest in engaging in sexual activity with the child in exchange for money. The defendant then traveled to meet the child and was arrested by law enforcement. Search of the defendant’s phone confirmed that he was the person communicating with the undercover officer through text messaging and phone calls.
Shiver faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph A. Ravelo and Meredith L. Steer.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 28, 2026, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Fort Walton Beach Man Indicted for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Aubrey Darnell Joseph, Sr., 35, of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Joseph, Sr. appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 AM before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
If convicted, Joseph faces a minimum 10 years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment on each count.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Alicia H. Forbes.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Tallahassee Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Jeremy Jovan Randolph, 37, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of the Tallahassee Police Department, this armed, dangerous felon has been taken off our streets. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Department of Justice has renewed its commitment to public safety through Operation Take Back America, and my office will continue to deliver successful prosecutions of dangerous criminals, like this defendant, to ensure our citizens get the safe, crime-free streets they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that on February 5, 2026, Tallahassee Police Department detectives assigned to the Traffic Unit noticed a vehicle parked illegally in a handicapped spot in a gas station parking lot. The detectives observed the defendant exit the store and enter the vehicle. The detectives then approached and could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and confirmed the defendant did not have a medical marijuana card. The defendant was asked to exit the vehicle. As the defendant did so, the detectives saw an AR-style pistol on the driver’s side floor of the vehicle where he had been sitting. The pistol was equipped with a 60-round magazine. The defendant was a previously convicted felon and was legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Randolph faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark Walker.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pensacola Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Travis W. Carroll, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office continues to deliver successful prosecutions of armed drug traffickers to fulfill the promise made by the Department of Justice when it launched Operation Take Back America: the citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities. Keeping drug-peddling thugs off our streets and locked away in federal prison remains a top priority that my office will achieve through aggressive prosecutions like this one.”
Court documents reflect that law enforcement received reports of an armed robbery at the Beacon Food Store in Pensacola, Florida. Law enforcement responded to the scene and observed the defendant, who matched the description given of the armed robbery suspect, riding an electric bicycle nearby. The defendant ran a stop sign, was pulled over. During the contact with the defendant, law enforcement located a loaded firearm, methamphetamine, a scale, and more than $600.00 in U.S. Currency on his person.
The defendant faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine count; up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon count; and a minimum mandatory 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas S.P. Geeker and Christopher C. Patterson.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2026, at 10:30 am, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Delivers Successful Prosecution of Armed Drug TraffickerRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Deontae Watkins, 44, of Perry, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with the intent to distribute various controlled substances including more than 500 grams of methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and another count of possession with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The Homeland Security Task Force was launched as a whole-of-government effort to combat the plague of addiction and criminal violence in our country caused by armed drug traffickers, and this successful prosecution demonstrates the impact we are having to improve the safety of our communities. This armed trafficker flooded our streets with deadly drugs, enriching himself on the pain and devastation caused by the narcotics he peddled, but those days are over for him. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute drug traffickers like him to deliver the safe, drug-free streets the citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve.”
Court documents reflect that law enforcement became aware of the defendant selling ounces of methamphetamine in late-2025. On February 10, 2026, during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s house, officers located multiple pounds of methamphetamine, more than half a pound of cocaine, various other drugs, and five pistols. As a previously convicted felon, the defendant was legally prohibited from possessing firearms. The defendant was arrested, but later bonded out of jail. On February 26, 2026, the defendant’s vehicle was stopped by law enforcement and approximately two pounds of methamphetamine was located in the vehicle.
The defendant faces at least 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum potential sentence of life imprisonment for his current charges.
The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Perry Police Department, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the North Star Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, the Suwanee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 21, 2026, at 2:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Tallahassee Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Federal Prison for Communicating Threats to Injure ChildrenRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Demetrius Alpha Omega Murray, 33, has been sentenced to 64 months in federal prison as a result of his guilty plea to six-counts of interstate communication of threats to injure children. The threats caused the lockdown of three Tallahassee-area public schools, and the closing of the campuses on several other area public and private schools. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the quick investigative work by our local law enforcement partners, this dangerous individual was caught before he could act on the dangerous criminal threats he made, and this successful prosecution by my office ensures he will be kept behind bars where he belongs for several years. Anyone who makes violent criminal threats, especially directed toward innocent children, will face aggressive prosecution by my office.”
Court records show that on November 14, 2025, the defendant made contact with representatives of a California law firm that was attempting to collect the defendant’s defaulted business loan. During the contact, which included multiple telephone calls and emails, the defendant threatened to commit a school shooting if the firm continued its collection efforts, directing his threats at students at Kate Sullivan Elementary School. The threats were accompanied by a video that the defendant recorded as he sat in a parked vehicle beside the school playground, during which he directed his threats towards children playing nearby and brandished a 9-millimeter handgun to illustrate his threats were serious.
The threats to commit violence were quickly relayed to law enforcement in the Tallahassee area, including the Tallahassee Police Department and Leon County Sheriff’s Office, resulting in the lockdown of Kate Sullivan Elementary School, as well as Cobb Middle School and Leon High School, both of which are located in close proximity. Investigators were quickly able to locate the defendant in Gadsden County, where he was taken into custody by the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office. Murray admitted to investigators he had made the telephonic and email threats and directed officers to the location of the handgun he had been pictured with earlier. Investigators recovered the handgun, which matched the weapon pictured during the video he had recorded while parked beside the Kate Sullivan playground.
“When someone threatens violence against our schools, we respond immediately and with every available resource,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “These cases create real fear for students, parents, and educators, and we will continue working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to identify those responsible and hold them accountable. I am incredibly grateful for the collaborative efforts that led to this sentence.”
As part of the sentence, upon release Murray will be required to serve three years on supervised release and undergo mental health evaluation and treatment.
The case was investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K Mountin.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Registered Sex Offender Found Guilty of Attempting to Entice a Minor for SexRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – David A. Girard, 70, of Robertsdale, Alabama, was found guilty by a jury in federal court of attempted enticement of a minor, traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of illicit sexual conduct, and committing a felony involving a minor while being a registered sex offender. The conviction was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This repeat sex offender has clearly shown that the only way to ensure the safety of our kids from his sexual predations is to keep him locked behind bars. The threats our kids face online are growing, but our excellent law enforcement partners are up to the task to stay one step ahead of predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize children. For our part, my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to ensure these sick individuals are removed from our communities for as long as possible.”
Evidence at trial demonstrated that in October 2025, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, along with other law enforcement partners, conducted an undercover operation directed at identifying people who were soliciting minors online for sex. On October 17, 2025, the defendant began talking with someone he believed was a fourteen-year-old child. He told the purported child the sexual acts he wanted to perform on the child and arranged a meeting location in Pensacola, Florida. When the defendant traveled to meet the purported child at the agreed upon location, he was arrested by law enforcement. Electronic evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant confirmed the defendant had, in fact, talked to the person he believed was a child and traveled to meet him.
Girard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on Count 1, and up to 30 years’ imprisonment on Count 2. Girard faces a mandatory 10-year term of imprisonment on Count 3 consecutive to any sentence imposed on Count 1.
This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Thomas S.P. Geeker.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pensacola Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug & Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Marcellous Likely-McWilliams III, 27, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am proud of the many successful prosecutions that my office has delivered under Operation Take Back America, as the Department of Justice devotes its full might toward removing violent, drug trafficking offenders, like this defendant, from our communities. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and that is exactly what my office will deliver with continued aggressive prosecutions to back up the excellent work of our state and federal law enforcement partners on the front lines in the fight against crime.”
Court documents reflect that on February 4, 2026, the defendant, a convicted felon legally prohibited from possessing firearms, was arrested wearing a backpack that contained a Glock 9-millimeter pistol, an additional 50-round drum magazine holding live ammunition, 69.7 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and various identification documents. The defendant initially resisted arrest, requiring one deputy to seek medical treatment. After his initial arrest, the defendant was placed in a patrol vehicle where he covertly slipped his handcuffs to the front of his body. He later kicked a deputy, and attempted to push the deputy away from the patrol car door as he tried to flee from the patrol vehicle before being transported to jail.
The defendant faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brooke A. Lindsay.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 14, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pensacola Tax Preparers Plead Guilty to Tax Fraud Conspiracy & Filing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – D’ontrinique K. Johnson, formerly known as D’ontrinique K. Wilkerson, 30, and Tequilla D. Nairn, formerly known as Tequilla D. Robinson, 37, both of Pensacola, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to aid or assist in preparation of false tax returns and to stealing government money and filing false tax returns and three counts of filing a false tax return. Nairn additionally pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of wire fraud. The guilty pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution by my office should be a warning to fraudsters anywhere in the Northern District of Florida: your time is up. If you rip off the U.S. taxpayer by defrauding the federal government, you have punched a one-way ticket for yourself to federal prison. Vice President J.D. Vance is spearheading the whole-of-government effort to combat fraud, waste, and abuse wherever it exists, while the National Fraud Enforcement Division is laser-focused on investigating and aggressively prosecuting frauds against the U.S. Government, and my office will ensure fraudsters pay for their crimes.”
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Court documents reflect that Johnson worked as a tax preparer for Nairn, who owned and operated First Premium Solutions, a tax return preparation business in Pensacola. Between 2021 and 2023, Nairn and Johnson conspired to routinely prepare fraudulent federal income tax returns for their clients as well as fraudulent personal returns, collectively preventing the payment of more than $192,000 in federal taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service. Nairn and Johnson knew the returns they prepared contained materially false items, such as fraudulent credits or business information, which were never provided to them by their clients. In 2020 and 2021, Nairn also fraudulently filed for and obtained unemployment insurance benefits from both Florida and Virginia by falsely claiming she was not working due to the COVID pandemic and had not applied for benefits from other states, all while working as a tax preparer and not reporting the additional benefits on her tax returns.
Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. and Nairn’s sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. in Pensacola, Florida, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. If convicted, Johnson and Nairn face up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy count and up to 3 years’ imprisonment for each filing a false tax return count. Nairn additionally faces a mandatory consecutive 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the wire fraud count.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Federal Sex Trafficking Indictment Filed Against Pensacola ManRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Javier Cyree Tyrell Brown, 28, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of commercial sex trafficking, one count of financially benefiting from commercial sex trafficking, one count of using a facility for purposes of racketeering, one count of coercion and enticement for interstate prostitution, one count of interstate transportation for prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Brown appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, in Pensacola before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. Brown remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending trial.
If convicted, Brown faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years’ up to life imprisonment.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Tallahassee Man Sent to Federal Prison for Theft of Government Funds in Stolen Valor ProsecutionRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida - Michel Duane Dyson, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida, who misrepresented himself as a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran to fraudulently collect Veteran’s Administration (VA) benefits, has been sentenced to a 48-month term of federal imprisonment for his misrepresentations and receipt of VA funds. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence today.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The brave men and women of our Armed Forces have made innumerable sacrifices throughout our nation’s history to preserve and protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans, and acts of stolen valor by fraudsters, like this defendant, are despicable. This defendant fraudulently claimed military service to gain benefits reserved for our nation’s warriors, but thanks to the excellent investigative work by federal law enforcement partners and the successful prosecution by my office, he’ll spend years in federal prison for his crimes.”
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Court records show that in April 2022, Dyson fraudulently applied for Veterans Affairs benefits based on his claims that he actively served in the U.S. Army, further claiming that he served in combat and had been awarded both the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Dyson was never an active or reserve member of any branch of the armed forces. Investigators later determined that, during part of the time Dyson claimed service in the Army, he was incarcerated in Massachusetts for a sex offense. Nonetheless, as a result of his fraudulent misrepresentations, from April 2022 until June 2025, Dyson was able to secure VA benefits in the form of medical treatment provided either through VA medical facilities or contracted medical providers. In May 2025, Dyson further attempted to fraudulently obtain additional VA housing benefits, at which point his deception was uncovered. Records in the investigation revealed that Dyson had similarly attempted to obtain VA benefits in the Boston, Massachusetts area in 2013, but had been denied.
As part of the sentence, upon release from prison, Dyson will be required to serve three years on supervised release and was ordered to pay $28,118.37 in restitution to the VA.
“This sentence holds the defendant accountable for falsely claiming military service to obtain VA benefits intended for veterans who earned them through their sacrifice and service,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Wentz with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG remains committed to safeguarding veteran programs against fraud so that benefits reach the individuals they were created to serve.”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pennsylvania Man Indicted for Federal Child Exploitation Crimes in Alachua County, FloridaRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Joshua Barber, 39, of Butler, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor for purpose of producing visual depictions; one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity; one count of cyberstalking; six counts of threatening communications; and one count of repeated harassing communication. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Barber appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 4, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on count one; a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on count two; up to 10 years’ imprisonment on count three; up to five years’ imprisonment on counts four through nine; and up to two years’ imprisonment on count ten.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Panama City Beach Felon Indicted on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Joseph Primus Gainer, 44, of Panama City Beach, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Gainer appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Gainer faces enhanced penalties of up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the drug count due to a prior drug trafficking conviction and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the firearm count.
The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Panama City Beach Police Department, and the Panama City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Florida Man Admits to Strangling Military Spouse on Two Occasions and Lying to FBIRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty today to charges related to two incidents where he strangled his wife, lying to the FBI about the events, and lying about a prior arrest for a domestic violence battery in 2020.
According to court documents, Antonio Jabar Floyd Jr., 38, strangled his active-duty military wife on two occasions, once in 2025 and once in 2026, while he was living with her overseas in Misawa, Japan. In January 2025, while in the home of a mutual friend where children, including his own, were present, Floyd Jr. became enraged at his wife and began strangling her so hard that his hand shook, telling her “see how easy I can control you.” The friend attempted to intervene but was unable to pull Floyd Jr.’s hand from his wife’s neck. On another occasion in April 2026, Floyd Jr. strangled his wife in the family home and in the presence of their minor children. He became enraged upon reading her personal emails, told her she was “lucky I didn’t kill you” and told her that he would not leave her even if she served him with divorce papers.
In consensual meetings with investigating FBI agents, Floyd Jr. made several false statements including denying that he strangled his wife, that he had never engaged in physical violence against her, and that he had never been arrested for battery or assault. Court records show that Floyd was arrested in Pensacola, Florida, on Oct. 22, 2020, for first degree battery on his wife for reportedly grabbing her by the throat and slamming her into a hallway wall.
Floyd Jr. pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence (strangulation) and one count of making false statements to a federal agency. He will be sentenced on Oct. 15 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count and mandatory domestic violence counseling. A judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI Los Angeles investigated this case with support from Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting this case.
Santa Rosa County Man Faces Federal Indictment for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Christopher M. Mayer, 32, of Navarre, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of conspiracy to distribute, receive, and possess visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Mayer appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Mayer faces a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, on each of the conspiracy and receipt counts. Mayer also faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession count. Mayer would also be required to register as a sexual offender and forfeit all the electronic devices utilized to commit the crimes.
The case is being jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Thomas S.P. Geeker.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Meth Trafficker from Georgia Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Jimmy Randell Chason, 70, of Cairo, Georgia, pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our HIDTA partnerships continue to deliver results in our ongoing whole-of-government efforts to combat drug trafficking operations, and this successful prosecution will pay dividends in our fight to stop the devastation that meth has wrought on our communities.”
Court documents reflect that the investigators with the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration developed information identifying the defendant as source of supply of substantial quantities of methamphetamine into the Tallahassee area. As part of an undercover operation, law enforcement purchased multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine from the defendant. The defendant was apprehended while in-transit to deliver drugs, during which he was caught with one pound of methamphetamine.
The defendant faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years imprisonment, up life imprisonment on all four counts of conviction.
This case was investigated by the investigators with the North Florida HIDTA, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 26, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Tallahassee Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Landon Dashawn Wilson, 28, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offense. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities, and my office will do everything in its power to deliver on that promise with aggressive prosecutions of armed drug dealers, like this defendant. Operation Take Back America was launched under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to eradicate the scourge of drug traffickers from our streets, and that’s exactly what my office will do.”
Court documents reflect that the Tallahassee Police Department responded to a call regarding a possible burglary or assault at an apartment. Witnesses reported the defendant attempted to enter an apartment without permission of the residents, and had a bookbag containing a firearm. After the defendant was located nearby, and identified by the witnesses, the bookbag was searched. Law enforcement recovered a jar containing approximately 113 grams of marijuana, 81 baggies, and a loaded “AR”-type pistol.
The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for burglary, drug possession, and firearm offenses.
The defendant faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute marijuana count; up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count; and not less than 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count consecutive to other sentences imposed.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric K. Mountin and James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Honduran Criminal Alien Apprehended in Pensacola Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Osman Edgardo Cubas-Alvarenga, 38, a Honduran illegally present in the United States, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography and one count of illegal reentry of an alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “For more than a year, this criminal alien preyed upon and sexually exploited a minor child while he was illegally present in our country. This heartbreaking story underscores the commonsense reason why we must secure our borders and aggressively enforce our nation’s immigration laws: because the safety of our communities depends upon it. I appreciate the incredible investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to help bring this criminal alien to justice, and commit that my office will continue to aggressively prosecute sexual predators, like this defendant, to keep our kids and our communities safe.”
Court documents reflect that between January 2025 and February 2026, the defendant was engaging in a secret “relationship” with a sixteen year old victim in Pensacola. The defendant would communicate with the minor via encrypted social media applications, which included them exchanging sexually explicit material. The defendant video recorded sexual acts with the victim. Law enforcement obtained search warrants to uncover all the digital evidence and arrest the defendant.
The defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervision upon release as well as registration as a sexual offender. He also faces removal from the United States.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 24, 2026, at 10:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood and Operation Take Back America. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Fourteen New Indictments Returned for Immigration Offenses in JuneRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Pensacola and Gainesville – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that 14 previously deported illegal aliens have been separately indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States in the month of June.
According to court records, the 14 illegal aliens indicted in the month of June include:
- Marcelino Mendez-Gomez, 42, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2013 and 2019. Change of plea and sentencing took place on July 8, 2026, at 11:30 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Adelmo Alvarado-Lopez, 55, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2018. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Salvador Martinez Andrade, 41, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2012. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Bernado Perez Bartolon, 46, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in May 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2024. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Pedro Flores-Perales, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in May 2026, after previously being deported seven times: once in 2010; once in 2013; and five times in 2014. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Jonathan Gonzaelz-Resendiz, 35, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in May 2026, after previously being deported four times in 2012. Trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
- Josue Orlando Medina-Lira, 35, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2009 and 2023. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Ernesto Perez-Vasquez, 36, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2010 and 2014. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
- Miguel Angel Quiroz-Perez, 53, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2017. Trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
- Selvin Fernandez Ruis, 33, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in June 2026, after previously being deported in 2023. Trial is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
- Denis Eduardo Garache Moncada, 33, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2024 and on or about March 2024, after previously being deported in 2019. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Hugo Angeles-Cruz, 42, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported in 2016. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Andres Antonio Mendez, 34, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Jackson County in June 2026, after previously being deported three times in 2015. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Ramon Alfredo Solano-Cruz, 36, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in May 2026, after previously being deported 2012 & 2019. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Mendez-Gomez faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine pursuant to allegations of prior convictions qualifying for an increased maximum sentence.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Lynn Haven Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith L. Steer, Alicia H. Forbes, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Emma Schwann, Walter E. Narramore, Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, Joseph A. Ravelo, and Tyler Fleming are prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Marianna Felon Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
James appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 27, 2026, at 8:30 am, before Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
James faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a controlled substance count; a minimum mandatory 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
The case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric W. Welch and Jessica S. Etherton.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Robert Lee Johnson, III, 39, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of production of child pornography. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant preyed upon and sexually exploited a minor child, but thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners and the aggressive prosecution by my office he is on his way to federal prison. Keeping disgusting predators, like this defendant, locked away is key to keeping our kids safe.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant met the minor victim in 2020, when the victim was 14 and the defendant was 33. The defendant recorded sexual acts with the minor victim and then threatened to post the videos of the victim online. A search warrant revealed the defendant’s phone contained the sexually explicit videos of his exploitation of the minor victim.
For each count, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to 30 years imprisonment. Johnson will be required to register as a sex offender.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 11:30 am, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie Utt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Tallahassee Felon Federally Indicted for Child Exploitation & Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Amontea Allen John Mitchell, 28, of Tallahassee, Florida was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with attempted enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Mitchell appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
If convicted, Mitchell faces a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment with a maximum term of life imprisonment on the attempted enticement of a minor count, up to 10 years imprisonment on the attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor count, and up to 15 years imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
The case involved a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys Emma Schwan and Justin M. Keen are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Panama City Felon Indicted for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida –Brian Earl Glass, 36, of Panama City, Florida, has been indicted in federal court with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Glass appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am, before District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
The defendant faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case was jointly investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Shoplifting Arrest Leads to Federal Firearm Conviction for Tallahassee FelonRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Lamar Bunch, 35, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case demonstrates the dangers faced by our brave law enforcement partners every day as they confront criminals to keep our communities safe. It also underscores the urgency with which my office must continue to act to ensure armed serial offenders, like this defendant, are kept behind bars where they belong so they cannot continue terrorizing our streets with their criminality.”
Court documents reflect that an off-duty Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy was working a security detail at Dillards when he observed the defendant shoplifting. The deputy made contact with the defendant outside of the store, and, while talking with him, the defendant opened his backpack where the deputy could see a pair of jeans inside the bag with the tags still on them. When the deputy attempted to detain the defendant, he fled on foot. The defendant was caught, arrested and a search of the defendant’s backpack yielded the stolen pair of pants with the size and price tags still attached and a 9-millimeter pistol.
The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions for burglary, robbery, and attempted burglary.
The defendant faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case involved an investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 11, 2026, at 1:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pensacola Fentanyl Traffickers Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Thomas Christopher Morton, 47, and Laurie Ann Chapman, 54, both of Pensacola, Florida, were each sentenced to five years in federal prison. Morton was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and three counts of distribution of fentanyl. Chapman was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and two counts of distribution of fentanyl. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “President Donald J. Trump designated fentanyl as a ‘weapon of mass destruction’ because that’s exactly what it has been shown to be, leaving death and devastation in its wake. Anyone caught trafficking this poison will be aggressively prosecuted by my office.”
Court records indicate that Morton and Chapman were the targets of a multi-month joint agency investigation. During that time, law enforcement conducted surveillance and documented multiple instances of both defendants distributing fentanyl. The investigation concluded on May 29, 2025, when officers conducted a traffic stop and found the defendants in possession of more than 100 grams of fentanyl intended for a prearranged sale.
“Every time our dedicated agents and law enforcement partners seize fentanyl we save lives,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “Fentanyl traffickers remain DEA’s top priority.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Undercover Operation Leads to Child Exploitation Conviction of Tallahassee ManRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Chandler Brittain Smith, 27, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of distribution of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to minors. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The threats our kids face online are growing, but our excellent state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to catching the predators seeking to sexually exploit and victimize children using the internet. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these sick individuals to ensure they are kept behind bars, off the internet, and away from our kids.”
Court documents reflect that in November 2025, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department conducted an undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, law enforcement acted in an undercover capacity on an online social media platform posing as a minor child. Records show that over a two-day period the defendant sent the undercover investigator multiple sexually explicit messages and an obscene photo in an effort to entice and persuade the fictitious child to meet him for sexual activity. On November 10, 2025, the defendant traveled to a pre-determined meeting location and he was arrested.
Smith faces a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the attempted enticement count. Smith also faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the attempted transfer of obscene materials count.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
The case is being jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Sixteen Illegal Aliens Convicted of Immigration Offenses in JuneRead the Press Release
Pensacola and Tallahassee – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that 16 illegal aliens were convicted of federal immigration crimes in the month of June.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens deserve to know that our federal government is committed to securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute criminal illegal aliens who think they can lie, cheat, and steal their way into our country.”
According to court records, 16 previously indicted illegal aliens were convicted of federal offenses in the Northern District of Florida in the month of May. Fifteen of the criminal aliens were convicted of illegal reentry by a removed alien, including:
- Abraham Flores Tercero, 48, of Nicaragua, who was previously removed in July 2009, was encountered in Leon County on October 22, 2025.
- Dualder Velasquez-Granados, 28, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in May 2018, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on March 14, 2026.
- Alcides Miguel Martinez-Martinez, 42, of Honduras, who was previously removed in February 2009 and February 2015, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 21, 2026.
- Miguel Ico Martinez, 29, of Mexico, who was previously removed twice in January 2024 and once in February 2024, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 21, 2026.
- Jose Ricardo Hernandez-Perez, 23, of Mexico, who was previously removed in April 2022, was encountered in Escambia County on March 28, 2026.
- Rene Alberto Guerra-Vega, 42, of El Salvador, who was previously removed in October 2012, was encountered in Leon County on March 29, 2026.
- Gabriel Garcia Hernandez, 41, of Mexico, who was previously removed in February 2024, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 1, 2026.
- Dania Chaver-Pereira, 31, of Honduras, who was previously removed in March 2017, July 2017 and February 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 4, 2026.
- Wily Antonio Escobar-Canterelo, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2016 and December 2016, was encountered in Okaloosa County on April 8, 2026.
- Moises Siquic-Tiul, 39, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in September 2015 and July 2017, was encountered in Walton County on April 13, 2026.
- Jose Mendez Pena, 35, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2009, was encountered in Escambia County on April 14, 2026.
- Esteban Hernandez-Muniz, 53, of Mexico, who was previously removed in May 2019, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on April 28, 2026.
- Juan Molina-Hernandez, 36, of Honduras, who was previously removed in July 2023, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 2, 2026.
- Iran Gomez-Aguilera, 43, of Mexico, who was previously removed in October 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 4, 2026.
- Juan Contreras-Vilches, 47, of Mexico, who was previously removed in May 2017, July 2017, January 2018, July 2018 and January 2019, was encountered in Okaloosa County on May 7, 2026.
One illegal alien was also convicted of voting by aliens:
- Jacqueline Wallace, 54, of Jamaica.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Breeze Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, Jessica S. Etherton, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Michelle Spaven, Joseph A. Ravelo, and Eric Welch prosecuted the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Panama City Felon Indicted for Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Stephen Miles Bishop, 30, of Panama City, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a short-barreled rifle. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Bishop appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am, before District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
The defendant faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment on each possession of a firearm count. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of a short-barreled rifle.
The case was jointly investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Machinegun Possession Indictment of Tallahassee ManRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Omarion Laparis Rashad, 21, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a machinegun. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Rashad appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Rashad faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Gainesville Felon Pleads Guilty to Armed Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Eddie Jerome Scott, 38, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl; carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Time’s up for the armed drug traffickers in the Northern District of Florida who think they can flood our streets with narcotics and violence without consequence. Through Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice is devoting its full might toward removing these thugs from our streets to deliver the safe, drug-free communities our citizens deserve.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant sold methamphetamine at his home on two occasions in August and September 2025. During the September 2025 execution of a search warrant at the home, law enforcement seized over 1,232 grams of methamphetamine, 18.5 grams of cocaine, .29 grams of fentanyl, marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia, a money counter and a loaded .22-caliber pistol. The defendant has multiple prior felony drug convictions spanning from 2007 to 2018 which prohibit him from possessing firearms.
The defendant faces at least five years’ imprisonment and a maximum potential sentence of life, which includes not less than five years’ imprisonment consecutive to the drug sentences for the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
The case involved an investigation by the Gainesville Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie Utt.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 2:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Gainesville Drug Trafficker Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Trai Williams, 28, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of carfentanil (an analogue of fentanyl) and other controlled substances. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Carfentanil is an emerging drug threat in our communities that can be fatal in doses as small as 2 milligrams. Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners in this case, nearly 80,000 lethal doses of this dangerous drug were kept off our streets. Through Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice is devoting its full might toward eradicating the scourge of drug trafficking from our communities, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.”
Court documents reflect that on October 2, 2025, the defendant fled from police through multiple counties reaching speeds in excess of 120 mph. During the pursuit, cocaine and other controlled substances were thrown from the vehicle. After the defendant’s vehicle was immobilized and the defendant was apprehended, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s apartment in Gainesville. Inside the apartment were numerous controlled substances, including over 156 grams of carfentanil and other substances containing heroin, fentanyl, promethazine, codeine, cocaine, and over $55,000 in U.S. currency.
According to an Officer Safety Alert published by the Drug Enforcement Administration, carfentanil is a synthetic opioid originally developed to tranquilize large animals, such as elephants. The DEA estimates that it is 10,000 times more potent than morphine, and 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
Williams faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, and up to a maximum of life imprisonment.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gainesville Alachua County Drug Task Force with assistance from the sheriff’s offices in Alachua, Hamilton, and Columbia counties. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Federal Recidivist from Perry Pleads Guilty to New Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Nicholas Michael Freeman, 48, of Perry, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of cocaine, crack cocaine, and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This repeat offender clearly did not learn his lesson from his prior stint in federal prison, so my office will send him back behind bars to ensure he can’t continue to peddle deadly drugs on our streets. We will continue to aggressively prosecute any and all drug dealers operating in the Northern District of Florida to deliver on the promise of Operation Take Back America that our citizens deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities.”
Court documents reflect that a Perry Police Department officer speaking with a group of individuals around a burn barrel observed the defendant manipulating a plastic jeweler’s baggie commonly used for street sales of narcotics, containing what the officer believed to be a pill. The officer handcuffed the defendant, removed the baggie from his pocket and determined that the suspected pill was actually a piece of crack cocaine. The defendant was arrested and officers searched the fanny pack he had been wearing, finding 57 small baggies containing methamphetamine, 99 small baggies containing crack and powder cocaine, and 25 small baggies and 9 large sandwich style bags containing synthetic cannabinoids.
The defendant faces at least 10 years in prison and a maximum potential sentence of life imprisonment for his current charges. This represents an enhanced sentence because the defendant was previously convicted in 2013 of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Cocaine Base and sentenced to 84 months in federal prison.
The case involved an investigation by the Perry Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2026, at 2:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pensacola Outlaws Motorcycle Club Member Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Gregory E. Simonds Jr., 43, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for arson by means of an explosive causing personal injury. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution is the result of the close coordination between our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, who swiftly identified and caught this dangerous criminal so my office could bring him to justice. Through Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice is devoting its full might toward protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, like this defendant, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who threatens the safety of our citizens.”
Court documents reflect that on February 15, 2025, during an altercation with a group of individuals associated with the Pagans Motorcycle Club in the parking lot of Emerald Coast Harley Davidson on Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, the defendant set off an explosive that damaged the adjacent Jimmy John’s restaurant building and injured one of its employees. Although the defendant drove away from the scene, he was quickly identified and arrested by law enforcement. In his car, officers recovered four more explosive devices, two guns, narcotics and drug paraphernalia, and an Outlaws Motorcycle Club vest. During a subsequent search of his residence, federal agents seized additional explosive devices, explosive making material and equipment, and other evidence that the defendant was making and selling explosives.
“This case could certainly have ended much differently. When someone chooses to use an explosive device in a public place, they put innocent lives at risk,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden. “I’m proud of the outstanding work of our investigators, in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, and FDLE, in building a case that led to this sentence.”
The sentence was the result of a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former Labor Union Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Embezzlement, & Falsification of Union Financial ReportsRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Clarence Penny, 40, of Pace, Florida, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bank fraud, one count of embezzlement of labor union funds, and three counts of falsification of labor union reports. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant violated the position of trust he occupied in his union to personally enrich himself with the dues paid by his hard-working colleagues, and he attempted to conceal his criminal conduct by falsifying financial records he was required to maintain. Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our federal law enforcement partner and the aggressive prosecution by my office, this fraudster’s scheme has been dismantled and federal prison awaits him.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant served as the Treasurer for the Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, Local 09 444 Chapter of the United Steelworkers International Labor Union from May 2015 to October 2023. Between January 2020 and May 2023, the defendant wrote 66 unauthorized checks to himself from the Union’s bank account, and he used those fraudulently derived proceeds on personal expenses. In total, the defendant stole $94,586.53. Penny also provided fake account balances and false statements on annual financial reports in 2020, 2021, and 2022, to conceal his ongoing theft of funds.
Penny faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment for each count of bank fraud; up to five years’ imprisonment for the embezzlement count; and up to one year imprisonment for each count of falsification of labor union reports.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. Assistant United States Attorneys Brooke Lindsay and Walter Narramore are prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 10:30am in the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Former Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft of MailRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Evan Aldric Harris, 30, of Evergreen, Alabama, pleaded guilty to theft of mail by a postal employee. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea today.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens depend upon the U.S. Postal Service to reliably deliver the mail, and this despicable defendant violated the public trust placed in him as a postal employee by seeking to enrich himself through the theft of mail. I applaud the excellent investigative work by the USPS Inspector General and the aggressive prosecution by my office to hold this thief accountable.”
According to court documents, the defendant was caught on video opening and removing the contents of mail he was tasked with sorting while working as an employee of the United States Postal Service at the Pensacola Processing and Delivery Center. When interviewed by law enforcement, the defendant admitted that he had opened greeting cards and stole gift cards out of them.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2026, at 9 a.m. before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Harris faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and restitution.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes is prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Dixie County Man Indicted for Federal Child Exploitation Crimes Spanning Nearly a DecadeRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Joseph Lee Parker, 37, of Old Town, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with four counts of attempted enticement of a minor, three counts of attempted production of child pornography, and three counts of attempted receipt of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Parker appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 22, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on each attempted enticement of a minor count; a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, on each attempted production of child pornography count; and a mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each attempted receipt of child pornography count.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pace Man Charged with Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Hunter Drake Lovett, 30, of Pace, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with theft of government property. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today.
Lovett appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, before United States District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Lovett faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Eufala Alabama Police Department, and Florida Forestry Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke A. Lindsay is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Guilty Plea for New York Man in National Fraud Enforcement Division ProsecutionRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Dustin Lemmon Carpio, 33, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, possession of 15 or more counterfeit and unauthorized access devices, use of a false passport, and aggravated identity theft. This prosecution was part of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud launched by President Donald J. Trump, a whole-of-government effort to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The theft and exploitation of personal identifying information by fraudsters can have a devastating effect on the innocent victims whose finances are imperiled by scammers, like this defendant, who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of others. With the support of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, my office is striking back against those fraudsters to hold them accountable and deliver justice for their victims.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant conspired with others to steal and use other people’s identities to fraudulently obtain money and property. The defendant’s co-conspirators provided him the personal identifying information of real individuals without their knowledge or authorization, which the defendant used to obtain or attempt to obtain thousands of dollars of high-value electronic devices, such as Apple products, and related accessories and services that would be charged to accounts at national wireless communication provider chain locations. The defendant was arrested in March 2024 in Okaloosa County, Florida, while attempting to conduct such fraudulent transactions against real customer accounts using a counterfeit United States passport card. At the time of his arrest, the defendant possessed the personal identifying information of over 80 people, including social security numbers and account numbers.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Carpio faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy to commit wire fraud count; up to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the possession of 15 or more counterfeit and unauthorized access devices and use of a false passport counts; and a mandatory two years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence on the aggravated identity theft count. As part of his plea agreement, Carpio agreed to forfeit any forfeitable assets and to pay restitution.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service with assistance from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes is prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Wewahitchka Man Found Guilty of Three Counts of Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida –Ronnie Lee Small, Jr., 48, of Wewahitchka, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. The guilty verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Meth has devastated entire communities in the Northern District of Florida, leaving a trail of addiction, death, and despair in its wake. This defendant enriched himself by peddling this deadly poison, but his drug dealing days are over thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners and the aggressive prosecution by my office. We have a lot more work to do, but I am committed to delivering the safe, drug-free streets that our citizens deserve with more successful prosecutions like this one.”
Evidence at trial demonstrated that the defendant sold methamphetamine to a confidential source working with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office on three separate occasions with approximate weights of one ounce, one ounce, and two ounces.
“This case began with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit working alongside the Northstar Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, and it reflects the power of partnership,” said Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison. “I want to thank our state and federal partners for their outstanding support in getting this drug dealer off our streets and protecting our community.”
The defendant faces 10 years to life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $20,000,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 11, 2026, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Spaven and James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pensacola Felon Indicted for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Damien R. Johnson, 46, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Johnson appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 9:00 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
Johnson faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Pensacola Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Thomas S.P. Geeker.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Marianna Man Sentenced for Armed Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Michael Termaine Bell, of Marianna, Florida, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of marijuana, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 50 grams or more of marijuana. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case was built upon the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners who dismantled this drug trafficking operation that flooded our streets with deadly drugs. Operation Take Back America is delivering win after win for communities in the Northern District of Florida, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.”
Court documents reflect that investigators in Jackson County, Florida, obtained information that the defendant was a member of a drug trafficking organization selling illegal narcotics. After several months of investigation, law enforcement obtained a federal search warrant for the defendant’s residence and an adjoining family residence in Marianna, Florida. During the execution of the search warrants, investigators located over 1,000 grams of cocaine, five firearms, over 3,000 grams of marijuana, approximately $10,000 in cash, and other evidence of drug distribution. When the defendant was located and arrested a few months later, he was in possession of cocaine, marijuana, and a firearm.
“This sentence reflects the strength of the partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement,” said Sheriff Donnie Edenfield. “When we work together, we can dismantle drug trafficking operations, remove dangerous offenders from our communities, and make Jackson County a safer place for everyone.”
“This joint investigation highlights the value of a collective effort,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, DEA Tampa Field Division. “Working together we were able remove this drug trafficker from our streets and make our North Florida communities much safer.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Eric W. Welch.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Second Federal Inmate Indicted Following Attack at Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Francisco Avalos, 28, an inmate in a Federal Correctional Institution, was indicted by a federal grand jury for accessory after the fact and possessing contraband in prison. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Avalos is the second person to be indicted for an alleged incident on April 18, 2024. Jose Melendez-Rivera was indicted by a federal grand jury for assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and possessing contraband in prison. Read more here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/federal-inmate-indicted-multiple-assault-charges-and-possession-contraband.
Avalos appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 8:30 am before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
The case was a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Patterson and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Illegal Alien from El Salvador Federally Charged for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Clisma Segovia, 18, a citizen of El Salvador living in Douglasville, Georgia, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Segovia appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:30 am in Pensacola before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Segovia faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Drug Dealing Duo Indicted for Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – James Christopher Bradford, 34, of Pensacola, Florida, and William Kody Montgomery, 38, of Mobile, Alabama, have both been indicted in federal court on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Bradford was also indicted for one count of distribution of Ketamine and MDMA. Montgomery was indicted for one count of distribution of cocaine and a separate count of distribution of LSD, MDMA, and cocaine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Bradford and Montgomery appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho for their initial appearances at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for July 6, 2026, at 8:30 am in Pensacola before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If convicted, Bradford and Montgomery face at least 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 imprisonment on the conspiracy count. Bradford faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the distribution of Ketamine and MDMA count. Montgomery faces at least 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, on the distribution of LSD, MDMA, and cocaine count; and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the distribution of cocaine count.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brooke Lindsay.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Venezuelan Illegal Alien Sentenced to Twenty-Seven Months in Federal Prison for Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Robinson Abraham Esparragoza Regalado, 27, a citizen of Venezuela who resided in Miami, Florida, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Operation Take Back America was launched to devote the substantial resources of the Department of Justice toward capturing and removing the violent illegal aliens who threaten the safety of our communities. My office continues to aggressively prosecute criminal illegal aliens, like this defendant, to keep the citizens of the Northern District of Florida safe.”
Court documents reflect that the defendant is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States, and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. On November 25, 2025, Florida Highway Patrol pulled over the defendant’s vehicle in Alachua County, and during a subsequent search of the vehicle law enforcement located a bag containing a Glock 9mm pistol. The firearm was equipped with a 33-round extended magazine, which was almost fully loaded with ammunition.
“An illegal alien found in possession of a loaded firearm poses a significant threat to public safety,” said ICE Miami interim Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. “This case underscores the importance of strong partnerships among Florida’s law enforcement agencies, whose coordinated efforts continually ensure the safety and security of our communities through the identification and apprehension of individuals unlawfully possessing firearms.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Nine Illegal Aliens Convicted of Immigration Offenses in MayRead the Press Release
Pensacola and Tallahassee – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that nine illegal aliens were convicted of federal immigration crimes in the month of May.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These criminal aliens tried to lie, cheat, and steal their way into our country, but thanks to my office’s commitment to aggressively prosecuting all criminal offenders and the strong partnerships we have with our state and federal law enforcement agencies, they are being held accountable for willfully – and often repeatedly – violating our immigration laws. These successful prosecutions were made possible thanks to the Department of Justice’s commitment to the rule of law under Operation Take Back America, and my office will continue to deliver the safe, crime-free streets our citizens deserve.”
According to court records, nine previously indicted illegal aliens were convicted of federal offenses in the Northern District of Florida in the month of May. Eight of the criminal aliens were convicted of illegal reentry by a removed alien, including:
- Edwin Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 31, of El Salvador, who was previously removed in July 2019, was encountered in Gadsden County on November 6, 2025.
- Rodolfo Garcia Martinez, 38, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in February 2009, May 2014, and May 2017, was encountered in Escambia County on February 17, 2026.
- Ricardo Castrejon Lucatero, 31, of Mexico, who was previously removed in April 2018, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on May 12, 2025.
- Anibal Murcia-Barrera, 27, of Honduras, who was previously removed in August 2017, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 4, 2026.
- Santos Gomez-Diaz, 41, of Mexico, who was previously removed in November 2013 and November 2017, was encountered in Walton County on September 11, 2022.
- Simon Mateo-Simon, 36, of Mexico, who was previously removed in December 2015, was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 21, 2026.
- Noe Alexis Lopez Suarez, 27, of Mexico, who was previously removed in November 2022, was encountered in Santa Rosa County on April 4, 2026.
- Deyzon Altamirano Pineda, 21, of Mexico, who was previously removed in February 2024, was encountered in Taylor County on March 14, 2026.
Two illegal aliens were also convicted of false document crimes:
- Luis Armando Lopez Lopez, 27, of Guatemala.
- Rodolfo Garcia Martinez, 38, of Guatemala, who also pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a removed alien, as noted above.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Florida Highway Patrol, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Naval Air Station Pensacola Police, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Gulf Breeze Police Department and the Perry Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain, Thomas S.P. Geeker, Brooke Lindsay, Jessica S. Etherton, Jeffrey M. Tharp and Eric Welch are prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.