Northern District of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Paul Anthony Hart, 42, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, consecutive to an existing Georgia sentence for trafficking in cocaine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward dismantling the drug trafficking networks that have plagued our communities for far too long. I am proud to continue delivering on that promise with yet another successful prosecution and lengthy prison sentence for this peddler of poisonous drugs.”

Court documents reflect that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had been investigating the defendant’s methamphetamine trafficking activity. On April 2, 2025, DEA observed the defendant traveling from Dothan, Alabama into Tallahassee, Florida. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on the defendant’s vehicle to arrest him for an active warrant out of Georgia. During the traffic stop, deputies found over 100 grams of methamphetamine, along with a set of digital scales.

“Trafficking methamphetamine in the Pan Handle continues to be an all too frequent occurrence,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “I’m proud of our agents and law enforcement partners with Leon County Sheriff’s Office for bringing this criminal to justice.”

The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

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, FLORIDA – Joseph C. Williams, 63, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts 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: “When President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to marshal the full resources of the Department of Justice toward protecting our communities from violent criminals, this defendant was precisely the type of serial, violent felon they had in mind. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting these cases until our communities are safe from thugs like this.”

Court documents reflect that on November 19, 2024, the defendant was stopped for traffic violations while riding an electric bicycle on the roadway. During the traffic stop, the police officer observed a firearm barrel sticking out of the defendant’s shorts. The officer handcuffed the defendant and then removed the firearm.

The defendant subsequently bonded out of jail and, on April 11, 2025, the defendant was involved in a gunfight in broad daylight at Carter-Howell-Strong Park in Tallahassee. During the shootout, the defendant was shot in the foot and sought medical attention at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Law enforcement found blood and a firearm in the backseat of the defendant’s girlfriend’s car. The firearm ballistics matched shell casings recovered from the park shooting.

The defendant was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple felony convictions, including four state convictions for armed robbery and federal convictions for Armed Bank Robbery and Using and Carrying a Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The defendant faces at least 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, at sentencing.

The case involved an investigation by 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 May 28, 2026, at 9:00 at 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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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, FLORIDA – Manuel Alejandro Palomino Amador, 33, of San Diego, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess 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: “Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of a multi-state coalition of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this significant drug trafficking network has been dismantled, and this successful prosecution ensures this defendant will face full accountability for flooding our streets with deadly drugs in the Northern District of Florida. The Homeland Security Task Force was established by President Donald J. Trump to eradicate the threats to our citizens’ safety posed by the foreign cartels and transnational criminal organizations pumping violence and deadly drugs into our communities, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to keep our streets safe and drug-free.”

Court documents reflect that investigators identified the defendant as a significant supplier of methamphetamine from Southern California to the Northern District of Florida. Upon learning of a methamphetamine shipment bound for North Florida, agents surveilled the transaction in San Diego. Thereafter, law enforcement stopped the buyer as he was returning to his home in Banning, California, searched his vehicle and discovered 35.9 kilograms of methamphetamine. Later that day, law enforcement stopped the defendant as he was driving his own vehicle and discovered 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine and $51,166 in U.S. currency. Agents also located a key to a storage facility that led to the discovery of an additional 36.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and 4,037 grams of fentanyl.

Amador faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. 

The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, and the Escondido Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Walter Narramore.

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, FLORIDA – Diego M. Villavicencio, 36, of Tallahassee, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with two counts of interstate communication of threats, one count of impeding or retaliating against a federal official, and one count of threats against the President. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

Villavicencio appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 5, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.

If convicted, Villavicencio faces up to five years’ imprisonment on each count of interstate communication of threats and threatening the President and ten years’ imprisonment for impeding or retaliating against a federal official.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Capitol Police, the Federal Reserve Board Protective Service, and the United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.

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.

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – John D. Ford, 49, of Panama City, 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: “Operation Take Back America was launched to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing violent criminals, like this defendant, from our communities to deliver the safe streets our citizens deserve. This serial felon has demonstrated a complete disregard for our laws and the safety of our community, so we must ensure he remains locked away in prison as long as possible.”

Court documents reflect that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives assisted the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Panama City. Three firearms were found in the defendant’s bedroom (a short-barreled shotgun and two pistols), along with job application paperwork with the defendant’s biographical information on it and court paperwork for the defendant. Post-Miranda, the defendant admitted that one of the firearms belonged to him. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s cellphone and discovered messages that indicated that the defendant was trading or selling the recovered firearms. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of 12 prior felony convictions.

The defendant faces imprisonment for up to 15 years at sentencing.

The case involved an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office 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 May 20, 2026, at 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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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 and TALLAHASSEE – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that eight previously deported illegal aliens have been indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States, and seven illegal aliens were convicted of federal crimes in the month of February.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office continues to make positive contributions to the success of Operation Take Back America as we follow the directive set forth by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to aggressively prosecute criminal aliens who have repeatedly violated our immigration laws and endangered the safety of our communities. Those who try to lie, cheat, and steal their way into our country will be met with swift justice and quick deportations.”

According to court records, eight illegal aliens indicted in the month of February include:

• Franklin Zelaya-Funez, 33, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in June 2025, after previously being deported in 2021. Trial is set for March 16, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
• Mario Lopez-Martinez, 33, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Madison County in November 2025, after previously being deported in 2017, 2019, and 2020. Trial is set for March 31, 2026, before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
• Benancio Cuyuch-Pelico, 37, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in January 2026, after previously being deported in 2013. Trial is set for April 20, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
• Santos Gonon, 25, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in January 2026, after previously being deported in 2019. Plea and Sentencing are set for March 25, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
• Pablo Cuyuch-Garcia, 35, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in January 2026, after previously being deported in 2011. Trial is set for April 20, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
• Jose Francisco Santizo-Perez, 41, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in January 2026, after previously being deported in 2010, twice in 2019, and 2021. Change of plea is set for March 10, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho.
• Gordolias Perez-Ramirez, 32, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in February 2026, after previously being deported in 2018. Trial is set for April 6, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
• Antonio Isidro-Lopez, 44, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in February 2026, after previously being deported in 2025. Trial is set for April 6, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Zelaya-Funez and Santizo-Perez each face 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.

In addition to the indictments filed, seven previously indicted defendants were convicted in the month of February for being unlawfully present in the country after a prior removal. The illegal aliens convicted in the month of February include:

• Juan Salgado, of Mexico, who was previously removed in September 2012. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on November 8, 2025.
• Jose Alberto Orozco-Sanchez, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2019 and November 2019. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on November 19, 2025.
• Kevin A. Perez-Portillo, of El Salvador, who was previously removed in August 2017. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on December 9, 2025.
• Emin Perez-Mendez, of Mexico, who was previously removed in August 2018. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on December 23, 2025.
• Robin Quinones-Valles, of Honduras, who was previously removed in March 2014. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on December 10, 2025.
• Brahayan Vargas-Pinzon, of Columbia, who was previously removed in July 2025. He was encountered in Leon County on December 9, 2025.
• Abel DeJesus Ronquillo-Martinez, of El Salvador, who was previously removed in January 2014. He was encountered in Florida on October 8, 2025.

The cases involved investigations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and Enforcement and Removal Operations with assistance from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Assistant United States Attorneys Brooke DiSalvo, Eric Welch, Alicia H. Forbes, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Jessica S. Etherton, Justin M. Keen, Joseph A. Ravelo and Christopher C. Patterson 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Scott Robinson, 51, of Pace, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of Drug Adulteration. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Complying with federal laws that are in place to ensure the safety of regulated medications is not optional.  This defendant knowingly flouted those requirements for several years, but thanks to the excellent investigative work of our federal law enforcement partners, his scheme has been dismantled.”

Court documents reflect that from 2022 to 2025, the defendant, via his website, advertised and sold the animal drug toltrazuril to customers across the United States. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, toltrazuril is deemed an adulterated new animal drug, which is subject to specific requirements for its production, labeling, and sale. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted multiple purchases of items labeled and advertised as toltrazuril from the defendant’s website. Those items were tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and confirmed to contain toltrazuril. The defendant never complied with FDA regulations regarding his production, labeling, and sale of toltrazuril.

Robinson faces up to one year imprisonment on each count, followed by a term of supervised release.           

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.

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, FLORIDA – Calvin Eugene Williams, 35, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to two separate methamphetamine charges. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “For years, this drug dealer flooded our streets with poison, plaguing our communities with addiction, blight, and despair. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America as a promise to our citizens that the Department of Justice will not stand idly by while criminals like this defendant terrorize our communities, and that we will root out and eliminate those criminal threats wherever they exist.  This successful prosecution and substantial prison sentence delivers on that promise, but we won’t stop this fight until our streets are safe and drug-free.”

Court documents reflect that the defendant was arrested on April 19, 2024, by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office after being stopped with six-ounces of methamphetamine and approximately 95 pressed-pills containing fentanyl. The defendant subsequently bonded out of jail and was stopped on March 11, 2025, by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) on I-10. During the traffic stop, FHP troopers developed probable cause to search the vehicle and found a firearm and approximately 10 pounds (4450.1 grams) of 97% pure methamphetamine hydrochloride. The defendant had two cellphones which contained evidence of his drug-trafficking.

“This seizure absolutely will save lives,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “Our agents and law enforcement partners prevented poison from reaching our North Florida neighborhoods.”

“Drug traffickers who bring poison like methamphetamine and fentanyl into our community need to understand something clearly: we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will work tirelessly with our state and federal partners to make sure you face the consequences,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “This 17-year sentence sends a strong message, if you threaten the safety of the citizens of Bay County, you will be held accountable. Our deputies will continue to pursue those who profit from addiction and destruction, and we will not stop until our community is safer.”

Williams was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. When Williams is released, he will be on supervised release for a period of 12 years.

The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

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, FLORIDA – Donschee Ricky Montrell Foster, 33, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted a federal grand jury charging him with one count of possession of obscene material, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of being a registered sex offender while committing child exploitation crimes. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

Jury trial is scheduled for April 6, 2026, at 8:30 am before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

If convicted, Foster faces a mandatory minimum 20 years’ imprisonment.  Foster remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service in the Santa Rosa County Jail pending trial.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pensacola Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Alaisjah Dayshawn Perkins, 22, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to receipt, possession, transfer, and making of a firearm which is not registered in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record and not identified by a serial number. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America was launched to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and this successful prosecution delivers on that mission. Our brave state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines of the fight against violent criminals, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with aggressive prosecutions to keep our citizens safe.”

Court documents reflect that on April 26, 2025, law enforcement officers observed posts on a Facebook profile advertising the sale of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). Subsequently, an undercover officer began communicating with the defendant. Between April and May 2025, law enforcement conducted multiple undercover purchases of several MCDs from the defendant. Pursuant to a search warrant for the defendant’s home, officers located tools and supplies for manufacturing MCDs. The defendant was arrested and a bag of 13 MCDs was located in his pocket. The MCDs were sent to the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for technical examination, and were determined to be designed to convert AR-style firearms from semi-automatic to fully automatic.

Perkins faces up to ten years’ imprisonment. If Perkins is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, such term could be followed by up to a three-year term of supervised release. Thus, if Perkins were to violate any conditions of his release, he could potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision.              

This case was a joint investigation by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2025, at 1:00 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Sean Eric Thompson, 44, formerly of Pace, Florida, was sentenced to four years in prison after previously pleading guilty in federal court to five counts of wire fraud, three counts of making a false statement, six counts of money laundering, and three counts of bankruptcy fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant tried to rip off the federal government by enriching himself with U.S. taxpayer funds intended to help small businesses struggling during the COVID pandemic, and then followed that up with further fraud during subsequent bankruptcy proceedings. My office remains committed to ensuring every last fraudster who stole taxpayer money during the COVID pandemic is held accountable.”

Court documents reflect that in May 2021, the defendant, who was a partial owner of a business that owned a brewery and restaurant, electronically submitted a fraudulent Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) application and supporting documents to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The RRF was created to provide funding for restaurants, bars, and similar businesses that served food and drink to keep their doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic. The application and supporting documents electronically submitted by the defendant falsely stated that the business had sustained $1,128,233 in COVID-19 related losses, and on May 25, 2021, the SBA paid $1,128,233 in RRF funds into an account designated by the defendant.

The defendant then spent the RRF funds on personal expenses, including transferring substantial funds to his personal investment account. Specifically, between August and November 2021, the defendant transferred $150,000 in RRF funds to his personal investment account.

In August 2023, the defendant filed for bankruptcy. The petition and schedules submitted by the Defendant contained a number of materially false statements and omissions, including failing to disclose the RRF funds and the defendant’s interest in a second, unrelated business. In connection with his bankruptcy proceeding, the defendant then testified falsely under oath during a September 2023 meeting of his creditors. Finally, in February 2024, the defendant caused fraudulently altered financial statements to be submitted to the trustee administering his bankruptcy estate.

“Pandemic relief funds were created to support businesses in crisis, not enrich individuals like Mr. Thompson,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and hold accountable anyone who abuses public trust and defrauds critical government programs for personal gain.”

“SBA Office of Inspector General remains committed to aggressively pursuing individuals who exploited pandemic relief programs for personal gain,” said Jason Xerri, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the SBA OIG’s Eastern Regional Office. SBA-OIG will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate fraud, protect taxpayer funds, and ensure those who abused these critical programs are held accountable.”

The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.

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, FLORIDA – Osman Edgardo Cubas-Alvarenga, 36, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of production of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of illegal reentry into the United States by an unlawful alien. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

Jury trial is scheduled for April 20, 2026, at 8:30 am before United States District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.

If convicted, Cubas-Alvarenga faces a mandatory minimum 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment. Cubas-Alvarenga remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service in the Santa Rosa County Jail pending trial.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg 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.

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 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Theodore Roosevelt Robinson, Jr., 32, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty to the federal charge 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: “President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full power of the Department of Justice toward cleaning up our streets and removing violent criminals like this defendant from our communities. Our citizens deserve to live in safety, and that is exactly what my office will deliver with aggressive prosecutions of dangerous criminals.”

A federal investigation revealed that on or about September 16, 2025, the defendant sold a 12-gauge shotgun during a law enforcement operation. At the time of the firearm sale, the defendant was a felon and could not legally possess a firearm, based upon his prior convictions on state charges of possession of methamphetamines, drug trafficking, and attempted armed robbery.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before District Judge Mark E. Walker. He faces up to fifteen years in prison, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo 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, FLORIDA – Travis W. Carroll, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.

Carroll appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Bolitho for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for April 6, 2026, at 8:30 am in Pensacola before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

If convicted, Carroll 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 Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Devon Mae Witryk, 28, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging her with one count of neglect of a child. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today.

Witryk appeared for her arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for April 6, 2026, at 8:30 am in Pensacola before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

If convicted, Witryk faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by Eglin Security Forces Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Terry Terrell Crenshaw, 39, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine; one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; one count of use of a communication facility; and one count of maintaining drug-involved premises. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.

Crenshaw 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 April 6, 2026, at 8:30 am in Pensacola before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

If convicted, Crenshaw faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count; up to four years’ imprisonment on the use of a communication facility count; and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the maintaining drug-involved premises count.          

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 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.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Robert Lee Johnson, III., 39, of Gainesville, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with six counts of production of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

Johnson, III. appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for April 8, 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 30 years’ imprisonment, on each count.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations 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 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Anthony Wayne Lanier, Jr., 33, of Crawfordville, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted transmission of obscene material. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

Lanier, Jr. appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 4, 2026, before District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.

If convicted, Lanier, Jr. faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on the attempted enticement count, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the attempted transmission of obscene material count.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – David Christopher Jensen, 54, of Steinhatchee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for two counts of distribution of marijuana, four counts of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, two counts of distribution of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, and one count of possession of an explosive by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.

Jensen appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick, in Tallahassee Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for April 6, 2026, at 8:15 am before District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle in Tallahassee, Florida.

If convicted, Jensen faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment on each count of distribution of marijuana; up to 15 years’ imprisonment on each count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance; up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count of distribution of cocaine; up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana; up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the count of possession of an unregistered firearm; and up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the count of possession of an explosive by a convicted felon.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo.

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, FLORIDA – Derek Somerset, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to escape from the custody of the Attorney General and the Attorney General’s authorized representative. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I appreciate the excellent work of the U.S. Marshals Service, in collaboration with our local law enforcement partners, to locate this fugitive and return him to federal custody. This successful prosecution reflects my office’s steadfast resolve to keep our communities safe from criminals like this defendant who have no regard for the law.”

Court documents reflect that on October 15, 2024, Somerset was furloughed from the Federal Correctional Institute at Hazelton, where he was serving a 48-month sentence after being convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Somerset was to report to a residential re-entry facility in Tallahassee to complete his sentence. Somerset, though, failed to report and was found a little over two months later in a motel parking lot, overdosing on fentanyl.

“This case demonstrates the successful collaboration of federal and local law enforcement partners working together to ensure a safer community,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal. “Thanks to the dedication of all involved, Somerset is now back in prison to serve an additional term of incarceration.”

The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch

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, FLORIDA – Robert “Bobby” Shane Willis, 46, of Perry, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, with a sentencing enhancement due to a prior conviction for a serious drug felony. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Peddling deadly drugs in the Northern District of Florida is a one-way ticket to federal prison, but this defendant clearly didn’t learn his lesson the first time so he has punched his ticket for yet another extended period of incarceration. The citizens of this District deserve safe, drug-free streets, and that is exactly what my office will deliver by continuing to aggressively prosecute crimes and criminals like this until that promise is fulfilled.”

Court documents reflect on March 5, 2025, the defendant sold 6.6 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine during an undercover law enforcement operation. Willis had previously served 108 months in federal prison for drug-trafficking and firearms charges. At the time he committed the current offense, he was still on federal supervised release for those prior convictions.

Willis faces an enhanced sentence requiring a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison as well as a pending violation of supervised release for the prior felonies.

The case involved a joint 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 for Willis is scheduled for May 6, 2026, at 10:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida 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, FLORIDA – Eddie Jerome Scott, 38, of Gainesville, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance over 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

Scott appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Allen C. Winsor.

If convicted, Scott faces a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, for each distribution of methamphetamine count; a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, on the possession with intent to distribute count; a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, on the possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon count.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gainesville Police Department. 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 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, FLORIDA – Garey A. Buscaino, 48, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 75 years in federal prison on charges related to a decade-long pattern of producing and possessing child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Protecting our children from exploitation and the predations of sick individuals like this offender remains one of my office’s highest priorities. I deeply appreciate the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners who helped stop this predator from continuing to sexually exploit minor children and brought him to justice. As this substantial prison sentence demonstrates, my office will relentlessly pursue offenders who victimize our children, prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, and seek maximum punishment for their heinous crimes.”

Court documents reveal that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an online user in Northwest Florida possessed what appeared to be child pornography in a cloud account.  Upon looking into the account and obtaining a search warrant for it, law enforcement determined that it not only contained child pornography from the internet but also what appeared to be hidden camera-produced pornographic videos of unsuspecting minor females.

Based upon the content of the cloud account, and further investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined the account belonged to Buscaino and obtained a search warrant for his local residence and firehouse, where members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force seized dozens of electronic devices from Buscaino.  Those seized devices were determined to contain hidden camera-produced pornography videos of five minor females in various states of undressing in bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as thousands of graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse material from the internet.  Some of these images and videos captured victims as young as toddlers being sexually abused.

“Our agents worked diligently to identify the offender and secure the evidence needed to protect these victims,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “We appreciate the strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in ensuring this individual is held fully accountable and cannot harm another child. Protecting Florida’s children is one of our highest responsibilities, and we will continue to pursue anyone who seeks to exploit them.”

"This sentence reflects the seriousness of these crimes and the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to protect children from exploitation," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. "We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure offenders are brought to justice and victims receive the support they deserve."

Multiple victims of Buscaino’s crimes were present at the sentencing hearing in federal court.  In addition to serving 75 years in federal prison, Buscaino was ordered to pay approximately $30,000 in restitution to the victims.  He will also have to register as a sex offender for life. 

The case was jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.

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 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, FLORIDA – Anthony Brewer, 47, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to theft of government property valued at over $50,000 in Department of Veterans Affairs funds. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

United States Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant abused his position of trust to financially benefit himself by illegally diverting money that was intended to support one of our brave military veterans, and this prison sentence ensures he is held accountable for his selfish, criminal conduct. Our military veterans deserve our respect and gratitude, and my office will ensure they receive the government benefits they have earned through their sacrifice and service by aggressively prosecuting anyone who tries to steal the U.S. government moneys intended for their support.”

Court documents reflect that the defendant agreed to serve as a fiduciary under the Department of Veteran Affairs’ fiduciary program and manage the monetary benefits of an individual who was unable to manage their own benefits. As part of the agreement, the defendant agreed to use the funds for the care, support, health, welfare, comfort, and desires of the beneficiary. The defendant subsequently misused and stole funds provided by the VA for the beneficiary between October 7, 2020, and January 9, 2023.

“This sentence holds the defendant accountable for defrauding a vulnerable beneficiary who was incapable of managing their finances,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “VA fiduciary roles require high integrity and trust, and the VA OIG is committed to rigorously investigating those who exploit veterans and their families.”

Brewer was ordered to pay $53,567 in restitution and his sentence will run consecutive to a state of Florida prison sentence that he is currently serving.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo and former Assistant United States Attorney Harley W. Ferguson 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 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, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Markus E. Hamlett, 46, has been indicted in federal court on one count of threat upon the President of the United States. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge.

Hamlett appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for April 6, 2026, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

If convicted, Hamlett faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.

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 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, FLORIDA – Timothy Lamar McGee, 43, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. 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 and substantial prison sentence is yet another win under Operation Take Back America, which was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing the peddlers of deadly drugs and violence from our communities. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and my office remains committed to delivering on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions like this one.”

According to court records, in July, August, and September of 2024, the defendant sold crack cocaine during a law enforcement undercover operation. On September 25, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on North 6th Avenue in Pensacola, Florida. During a search of the residence and the defendant’s vehicles, investigators located over 500 grams of cocaine, over 350 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol, over 1,000 grams of marijuana, four firearms, over $32,000 in United States currency, and other drug distribution related items.

“This drug trafficker poisoned Florida Panhandle communities for some time,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “I am proud of how our agents and local police officers worked together to bring this criminal to justice.”

The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton.

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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, 27, of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for 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.

Smith-Carter appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.

Smith-Carter faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.

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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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, FLORIDA – Triston Chacoey Aric Johnson, a/k/a “C.J.,” 21, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple federal gun and drug offenses, and at sentencing was found responsible for a second-degree murder committed in Tallahassee on July 17, 2024. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This felon was a plague on our community, flooding our streets with drugs and deadly violence, and today’s sentence ensures his reign of terror is over. This was precisely the case that President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi had in mind when they launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing the perpetrators of violent crime from our communities. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute cases like this until the citizens of the Northern District of Florida get the safe, drug-free streets that they deserve.”

“This was a senseless tragedy that should have never happened,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Harrell. “Thanks to Tallahassee Police Department, FAMU Police Department and federal prosecutors, the suspect won’t be able to threaten public safety again for a long time.”

Court documents reflect that Johnson was responsible for crimes stemming from incidents on two separate dates. On October 1, 2023, Johnson fled on foot from a Florida A&M University (FAMU) police officer, during which surveillance video showed Johnson hide a purple bag near a parked car. A FAMU employee reported finding a firearm and a purple bag the following morning, and the bag was found to contain a second firearm, marijuana packaged for sale, mushrooms, a digital scale with marijuana residue, and credit and debit cards belonging to Johnson.

On July 17, 2024, Johnson got into a verbal argument with another individual who was returning home in the early morning hours. The altercation escalated to physical violence when Johnson shot the other individual, fatally striking him in the heart. Following the homicide, the Tallahassee Police Department executed a search warrant at Johnson’s apartment, finding loose oxycodone pills, approximately 1.4 pounds of marijuana, over 25 empty one-pound vacuum seal bags with marijuana residue, various types of ammunition, and a short-barreled rifle that had been previously stolen from a Leon County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.

Johnson received a sentence of 30 years in prison, which will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Johnson was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later hearing.

The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Florida A&M University Department of Campus Safety and Security. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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, FLORIDA – Israel Ramos Portillo, a/k/a “Juan Carlos,” 39, a citizen of Honduras who resided in Coffee Springs, Alabama, was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The verdicts were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplified the persistent threats our children face online from predators like this defendant seeking to sexually exploit and victimize them. Fortunately, our state and federal law enforcement partners are keenly focused on identifying and catching those predators wherever they lurk online, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute these crimes to keep our kids safe.”

Trial testimony and evidence demonstrated that on April 12, 2025, state and federal law enforcement agencies conducted an online undercover operation aimed at identifying adults using the internet to sexually exploit children.  During the operation, the defendant began interacting with law enforcement’s undercover profile on a dating website, through which the detective was posing as a 14-year-old minor child.

Through numerous text messages over a two-week period, the defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations and expressed interest in having sex with the child, ultimately arranging to travel from his home in Alabama to Tallahassee to meet the girl and take her to a hotel to have sex. When the defendant arrived at the proposed meeting location, law enforcement arrested him and seized his cell phone as evidence. After searching the defendant’s cell phone, law enforcement confirmed that he was the person communicating with the undercover detective and that he traveled across state lines with intent to engage in sexual conduct with the fictitious 14-year-old girl.

Portillo faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Further, because he is an alien who is not lawfully present in this country, Portillo will be held for deportation proceedings at the conclusion of serving his federal sentence.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.

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.

This case is also 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Kenneth Ellis Wetherington, 59, of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for 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.

Wetherington appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.

Wetherington faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.

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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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, FLORIDA – Sincere M. Perkins, 25, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after having previously been convicted at jury trial of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a machine gun. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office continues to produce successful prosecutions under Operation Take Back America, which was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing violent felons like this defendant from our communities. Our residents deserve to feel safe on our streets, and that is exactly what we will accomplish by aggressively prosecuting violent thugs who threaten our communities and sending them to federal prison.”

Evidence at trial demonstrated that members of the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force located the defendant at an apartment in Tallahassee because of an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Officers attempted to call out the defendant, who eventually emerged from the apartment and was taken into custody. During a subsequent search of the apartment, officers found multiple firearms, including a pistol that had been modified to fire as a machinegun.

Ballistics from two of the recovered firearms matched shell casings from a shooting that had occurred a month and a half earlier in Quincy, Florida, in which two teenagers were shot. The defendant’s DNA was found on both firearms that had been used in the shooting, and a recorded jail call indicated that the defendant was knowingly in possession of the firearms. At sentencing, the judge found that the defendant had been one of the shooters.

Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal remarked, “The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force goes after the worst of the worst.  Working with law enforcement partners at the local, state, and federal level, our mission is to quickly locate and apprehend dangerous felons like Sincere Perkins before they can victimize anyone else.  The evidence in this case clearly demonstrates that the community is safer with Perkins behind bars.”

This sentence was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Marshal Service, the Quincy Police Department, the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit, and the Tallahassee Police Department, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney 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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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, FLORIDA – Marcel Kamill Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of distribution of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm and ammunition 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 work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, in close collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, this serial felon has been stopped before he can continue terrorizing our communities and flooding our streets with more deadly drugs. This is exactly the kind of case Operation Take Back America was launched for, as President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi committed the full might of the Department of Justice toward eliminating the threats to our communities from violent, drug-peddling criminals like this defendant. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute violent drug traffickers until our residents get the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.”

Court documents reflect that Mickles distributed cocaine in May and June of 2025. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mickles’ Pensacola residence in June 2025, during which they found five loaded firearms, a bulletproof vest, multiple bags of controlled substances including cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, and other drug distribution-related items. Mickles is a multi-time convicted felon, and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Based on prior convictions, Mickles faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of life imprisonment.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.

Sentencing for Mickles is scheduled for May 19, 2026, at 9:00am, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Perry Crane Walker, II, 44, of Tallahassee, pleaded guilty in federal court to six counts of sexual exploitation to children, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of 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: “Our excellent state and federal law enforcement partners are relentlessly pursuing every sick predator like this defendant who seeks to victimize and sexually exploit our kids online, and when they catch them my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute and seek maximum punishments for their heinous crimes. It remains a top priority of my office to ensure our kids are safe in our communities and online.”

Court documents reflect that between December 26, 2024, and October 10, 2025, Walker used social media applications to meet and communicate with children between 13-15 years of age. The investigation revealed that during his online communications, the defendant enticed and induced the minors to produce and send him images and videos constituting child pornography. Court records also revealed that, as a result of the defendant’s illicit communications with the children, one of the social media platforms submitted a CyberTip report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which notified the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. An investigation revealed that some of the children resided in Europe. Pursuant to search warrants, the defendant’s business and residence were searched and his electronic devices were seized as evidence. A search of the defendant’s devices confirmed that he had been sexually exploiting the children using social media, and that he received and possessed multiple child pornography images and videos.

Walker faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment, on each of the sexual exploitation of children counts; a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, on the receipt of child pornography count; and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment on the transfer of obscene materials to minors count.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2026, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

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 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, visithttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Luis Miguel Hernandez-Flores, 37, of the country of El Salvador, was sentenced to 12 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: “This criminal illegal alien followed up his violation of our nation’s immigration laws with additional federal and state crimes while unlawfully present in our country, and will now spend time in federal prison before being swiftly deported. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward firmly enforcing our nation’s laws against criminal illegal aliens like this defendant, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to keep our communities safe.”

Court documents reflect that on January 30, 2025, at approximately 3:00 A.M., Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) deputies initiated a traffic stop on the defendant’s vehicle because it was parked in the middle of the road with the defendant sleeping inside the car while the engine was running. The defendant was arrested for driving without a valid driver’s license. During an inventory search of the car, law enforcement located a .223 Ruger American Rifle which was seized by GCSO. An investigation into the immigration status of the defendant revealed that he was a citizen of El Salvador who was unlawfully present in the United States, and was federally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

In addition to his incarceration, Hernandez-Flores was ordered to forfeit his interest in the rifle that he illegally possessed.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Gadsen County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.

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, FLORIDA – Khalil Keari Barnett, 30, of Gainesville, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of firearm in connection with drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. 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 outstanding investigative work of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another violent, drug-peddling criminal has been removed from our streets. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice to eliminating the threats to our communities posed by violent criminals like this defendant, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those offenders until our streets are safe and drug-free.”

Court documents reflect that Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call for service.  When law enforcement arrived on scene, the defendant left out the back door of the residence and attempted to enter a rideshare vehicle before fleeing on foot.  As the defendant was fleeing, he threw a bag from his person, which included 600 grams of marijuana and a black mask. A firearm and box of ammunition were also recovered near the defendant.  The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as he has a prior conviction for possession of a weapon by a delinquent.

Barnett faces a total of up to life imprisonment on the combined possession with intent to distribute and firearm possession charges.   

The case involved a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.

Sentencing for is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 2:30 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Geoffery Bartee Dale, 38, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding work of our local and federal law enforcement partners, this drug trafficker’s scheme has been dismantled and he’ll spend the next 15 years in federal prison. The Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative was launched to target and eliminate drug trafficking operations like this one that have flooded our communities with deadly poison and threatened the health and safety of our residents. My office will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this one to keep violent drug traffickers in prison where they belong and give our residents the safe and drug-free streets they deserve.”

According to court records, in February and March of 2024, the defendant was a target of a joint law enforcement investigation. On March 8, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Pensacola residence, during which investigators located over 3,100 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a large amount of marijuana, four firearms, ammunition, over $129,000 in United States currency, and other drug distribution related items. Law enforcement also obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s storage unit, where they found more than 4,400 grams of methamphetamine, a large amount of marijuana, three firearms, and ammunition. The defendant has two prior felony convictions.

“This amount of methamphetamine represents a public health threat capable of impacting an entire region,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “Getting this trafficker off the streets will make communities safer and get the State of Florida closer to being Fentanyl and Methamphetamine free.”

The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton.

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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Patrick Shane Johnson, 51, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to bank robbery and bank theft. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Another successful prosecution under Operation Take Back America means one less violent criminal on our streets threatening our public safety. Great work by the Gainesville Police Department to quickly apprehend this offender, and great work by my office to aggressively prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.”

Court documents reveal that on August 27, 2025, the defendant entered a Wells Fargo bank on Archer Road and passed a note to a teller.  The note read, “This is no joke, it is an armed bank robbery. All of the money now I am armed.” The defendant grabbed over $1,000 cash and fled.  The Gainesville Police Department responded and immediately apprehended the defendant.

Johnson faces up to 50 years’ imprisonment upon sentencing, which is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor

The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Federal Burau of Investigations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.

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, FLORIDA – Richard Alan Spivey, a/k/a “Rick”, 62, of Tallahassee, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The threats posed to our children from sexual predators like this defendant demand our constant vigilance to ensure more innocent minors are not victimized and exploited, and fortunately our local and federal law enforcement partners are up to the task of finding these disgusting criminals wherever they lurk online. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes and seek maximum punishments to keep our kids safe and these offenders locked away in prison.”

Court documents reflect that in July 2024, the Tallahassee Police Department received a Cybertip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alleging that the defendant uploaded child pornography to a social media platform when sending it to another user as part of his chat messages. The investigation revealed that the defendant was a registered sexual predator based on his prior convictions for sex crimes. Law enforcement obtained search warrants for the defendant’s social media account and cell phone, which led to the discovery of online communications between the defendant and others during which he received and distributed child pornography videos.

“This case reinforces the FBI’s unwavering commitment to investigate child exploitation crimes and safeguard children from those who seek to exploit them,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Through strong collaboration with our state and local law enforcement partners, we are working to ensure there is one less predator targeting the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Spivey’s imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The 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 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 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, FLORIDA –Ronald Pate Newman, III, 27, of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of the 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 case exemplifies the threats our kids face online from disgusting predators like this defendant who seek to sexually exploit and victimize them. My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting cases like these, and will seek maximum punishments to keep monsters like him locked away in prison and unable to exploit more children.”

Court documents reflect that on April 28, 2025, law enforcement became aware that a previously convicted sex offender was using an 11-year-old child from Florida to produce images of the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  The defendant met the victim on a “safe for work” account, meaning all posts must be publicly appropriate, but he soon convinced the child to message him privately where he began grooming and then directing the child to create explicit photographs, which he posted in other accounts.  The defendant was arrested in Ohio, and a subsequent forensic analysis of seized devices identified over 500 images of child pornography.

Due to his prior convictions, Newman faces a mandatory minimum of thirty-five years’ imprisonment and up to Life imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervision upon release.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.

Sentencing for is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 3:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

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 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, FLORIDA – Laurie Ann Chapman, 53, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession 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 plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Fentanyl has had an undeniably devastating, deadly impact on countless communities nationwide, which led President Donald J. Trump to designate the drug a Weapon of Mass Destruction in December 2025 to ensure we deploy every federal resource possible to eliminate it from our streets. Sheriff Chip Simmons and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office are doing great work in collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners to attack this threat head-on, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute and seek maximum punishment for anyone who peddles this poison.”

Court records indicate that Chapman was the target of a multi-month joint investigation. During that time, law enforcement conducted surveillance and documented multiple instances of Chapman and her associates distributing fentanyl. The investigation concluded on May 29, 2025, when officers conducted a traffic stop and found Chapman in possession of more than 100 grams of fentanyl intended for a prearranged sale.

Chapman faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and up to forty years’ imprisonment, and up to a five-year term of supervised release thereafter.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 7, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.

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, human and drug trafficking.

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, FLORIDA – Devon Oliver, 18, of Gainesville, Florida, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with a removed serial number. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our brave state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines every day fighting to keep our communities safe, and my office will continue to back up those efforts with successful prosecutions like this one.”

Court documents reflect that on October 22, 2025, Oliver was riding an electric scooter with a firearm concealed in his waistband. When law enforcement attempted to detain Oliver for a traffic violation, he attempted to flee on foot and discarded the firearm in the bushes of an apartment complex. After law enforcement recovered the firearm, they discovered it had an extended magazine loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition and the serial number had been cut off and removed. Oliver was arrested while hiding in a stairwell and subsequently admitted he threw the firearm while fleeing.

Oliver faces up to five years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 1:30 pm 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, human and drug trafficking.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – William Jared Breski, 37, of Eastpoint, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted transmission of obscene material to minors, and one count of penalties for registered sex offenders. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

Breski appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for April 20, 2026, before District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle.

If convicted, Breski faces a mandatory 10 years’ imprisonment up to life imprisonment on the attempted enticement count, up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the attempted transmission of obscene material count, and 10 years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence imposed on the penalties for registered sex offender count.

The case was investigated by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jerney Jabara Purifoy, 33, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This serial felon has spent years terrorizing our communities with his criminal conduct, but President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice to protect our citizens from violent criminals like him. This defendant will spend years in federal prison, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute others like him until our streets are safe.”

Court documents reflect that law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Pensacola residence due to animal cruelty allegations. Law enforcement located a loaded handgun in the defendant’s bedroom, as well as a loaded .22-caliber AR15-style rifle in the residence. The defendant is a multi-time convicted felon.  The animal cruelty case is pending in state court.

Upon his release from prison, the defendant will be supervised release for three years.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.

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, human and drug trafficking.

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, FLORIDA – Damian Elliott Pressley, 38, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts of distribution or more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, and possession of a firearm and ammunition 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: “For too long, dangerous criminals like this defendant have flooded our streets with deadly drugs and violence.  Thanks to President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launching Operation Take Back America, we are deploying the full might of the Department of Justice to identify, target, and eliminate the criminal threats plaguing our communities. We will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this one until our streets are safe and drug-free.”

Court documents reflect that Pressley distributed 67 grams of methamphetamine on one occasion in October 2024, and 109 grams of methamphetamine and 124 grams of methamphetamine on two separate occasions in November 2024. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Pressley’s residence on Bobe Street in Pensacola in December 2024. Agents located a loaded firearm, over 200 grams of marijuana, over 90 grams of cocaine, and $17,580 in United States currency. Pressley is a multi-time convicted felon

Based on prior convictions, Pressley faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.

The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.

Sentencing for Pressley is scheduled for May 7, 2026, at 1:00pm, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida before United States District T. Kent Wetherell, II. 

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, human and drug trafficking.

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, FLORIDA – Peter Daniel Ring, 31, of Bell, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to sending multiple threatening interstate communications to kill or cause physical injuries.  The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office takes seriously any threat of violence, and we have zero-tolerance for criminal threats directed toward others because of their religious or political affiliation.”

Court documents reveal that in June 2025 the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) received a complaint from the Washington Post newspaper that it had received a threat to kill one of its reporters. The defendant was identified as the source of the threat, and when contacted by the FBI he said he would not make any more threats.  However, two months later, the FBI received a tip that the defendant was posting religiously and politically motivated threats of violence against Muslim people, members of the media, and prominent politicians. Between May and September 2025, the defendant made threats to kill or cause physical injury to at least fourteen victims.       

Ring faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment upon sentencing, which is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 4:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

The case involved an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.

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, human and drug trafficking.

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, FLORIDA – Tyrese Da’Jon Jones, 26, of Gainesville, Florida, has pleaded guilty 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: “Kudos to the excellent work by the Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies who took this violent felon off our streets so we could follow that up with a successful prosecution to put him behind bars where he belongs. The Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America continues to deliver wins for community safety as we fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will aggressively prosecute violent felons like this defendant to clean up our streets.”

Court documents reflect that on July 2, 2025, the defendant was approached by law enforcement while he was exiting a restaurant. The defendant fled from law enforcement and dropped a fully loaded pistol on the ground. After he was taken into custody, the defendant admitted that he pulled the firearm while he was fleeing and that he recently took MDMA. The defendant was not permitted to have a firearm because he has five prior felony convictions from two states, including a prior conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sherriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being 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, human and drug trafficking.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Timothy Donail Knight, 25, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.

Knight appeared on February 10, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for March 16, 2026, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.

If convicted, Knight faces a minimum mandatory of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, on the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl count; up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count; and a minimum mandatory 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Pensacola Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney 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, human and drug trafficking.

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, FLORIDA – Michel Duane Dyson, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida, who misrepresented himself as a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran despite having never served in the military, pleaded guilty in federal court of theft of government funds for his fraudulent receipt of Veterans Affairs benefits. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty plea today.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The brave men and women who served in our military deserve our gratitude, admiration, and support, and VA benefits are reserved exclusively for them based upon their selfless service to this country. I am proud of this successful prosecution by my office to deliver accountability and justice for this despicable defendant’s selfish acts of stolen valor and fraudulent misrepresentations of military service that enabled him to illegally obtain VA benefits intended for our nation’s heroes.”

Court records show that in April 2022, Dyson fraudulently applied for VA benefits on the basis of his claims to have actively served in the U.S. Army, further claiming that he served in combat and been awarded both the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star medals. 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, treatments valued at approximately $114,527.  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.

Dyson faces up to ten years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for April 30, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Robert Hinkle.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Carlos Dominguez Lopez, 36, of Mexico, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to false statement in an application for a U.S. passport and aggravated identity theft. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Trying to lie, cheat, and steal your way into this country won’t get you anything except a one-way ticket to federal prison and a swift deportation thereafter. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting criminal illegal aliens like this defendant who brazenly violate our immigration laws.”

Court documents reflect that in July of 2022, the defendant purported to be another individual and executed a United States passport application at the Escambia County Clerk of Court Office. The defendant provided a birth certificate and identification card in the other individual’s name, without that person’s permission. After the false statements were made, a United States passport was issued to the defendant.

An ICE detainer has been lodged against Dominguez Lopez, and deportation proceedings against him will commence once he completes his prison sentence.

The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the United States Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.

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, human and drug trafficking.

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.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Kendrick J. Hills Jr., 23, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to over five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office is committed to backing up our brave men and woman of law enforcement on the front lines of this battle against drugs and violence in our communities. We will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America to ensure our streets are safe and our communities are drug-free.”

Court documents reflect that the defendant was pulled over for multiple traffic violations. During the traffic stop, law enforcement smelled and observed marijuana in his vehicle. The presence of illegal narcotics was also confirmed by a K9 on scene. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a stolen 9-millimeter pistol on the driver’s floorboard, a .40-caliber pistol with an extended 22-round magazine under the driver’s seat, and a backpack filled with almost a pound of marijuana and drug-distribution paraphernalia, such as scales and baggies. The defendant later admitted that he possessed the firearms to protect himself, including protecting himself from the risk of drug-related robberies.

“This case is an example of the proactive work our deputies do every day to identify criminal activity before it escalates into something even more dangerous,” said Sheriff Chad D. Scott, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. “Through strong partnerships with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office, we are sending a clear message: Alachua County will not tolerate drug distribution and the armed criminal behavior that so often accompanies it.”

“I’m proud of the way our agents and officers from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office came together to bring this criminal to justice,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “We have great relationships with our North Florida law enforcement partners, and I look forward to our continued enforcement efforts together.”

The defendant’s imprisonment will be followed by a seven-year term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face additional prison time.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.

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, human and drug trafficking.

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.