PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A Pensacola man has been sentenced to a
mandatory minimum
term of 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to
drug and weapons charges related to
drug trafficking. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for
the Northern District of Florida,
announced the sentence given to Samuel Gomez, 30, who pled
guilty to possession with intent to
distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and
possession of a firearm in furtherance of a
drug trafficking crime.
“Drugs remain a scourge on our communities, leaving ruined
lives and too often a trail of violence
in their wake,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “With the help of
our federal, state, and local law
enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue, prosecute,
and punish those who spread these
drugs in hometowns across Northern Florida.”
Law enforcement personnel executed a federal search warrant
at Gomez’s Pensacola residence on
November 6, 2019. Inside the residence, officers seized a
total of approximately 3 pounds of
methamphetamine, as well as other substances suspected to be
cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Law enforcement also seized three firearms, two digital
scales, baggies, and approximately
$6,000 in U.S. currency. The firearms seized were identified
as a loaded Ruger pistol, a loaded
Smith and Wesson revolver, and a loaded MILTAC AR-15-style
pistol. The firearms were located near the seized drugs and were being used by Gomez in furtherance
of his drug trafficking crime.
“Reducing violent crime and protecting the public in the
communities that we serve is a priority
for ATF”, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary,
“We will continue to work vigorously with our law enforcement partners to make sure those individuals
who commit violent firearms crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug
Enforcement Administration, the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pensacola
Police Department, the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement, and investigators with the
State Attorney’s Office. Assistant
United States Attorney J. Ryan Love prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of
Justice’s signature initiative to reduce
gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by
the Attorney General in the fall of
2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past
successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal
authorities in investigating and
prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to
purchase a firearm and is denied by the
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to
include taking appropriate actions
when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for
mental health reasons; and ensures that
federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the
greatest threat to our communities. For
more information about Project Guardian, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/attorney-general-announces-launch-project-guardian-nationwide-strategic-plan-reduce-gun.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern
District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serves 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
http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
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