Ponte Vedra Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms and Controlled Substances

Jacksonville, Florida - Braden Huston Hobbs (28, Ponte Vedra) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger to nine years in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic firearms, making a materially false statement to a licensed firearms dealer, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents and proceedings, agents began investigating Hobbs after learning that several firearms Hobbs had purchased were recovered during separate law enforcement investigations. These firearms were recovered from the homes of drug dealers and a convicted felon. Additionally, undercover agents purchased 11 firearms from two co-conspirators, Alton Wayne Cope III and Jayden Lance Cope, who were also prosecuted. Hobbs was the original purchaser of multiple firearms purchased from the Copes. Cellphone records also confirmed that Jayden Cope regularly purchased firearms from Hobbs.

Through further investigation, agents found that between March 2022 and June 2024, Hobbs had purchased at least 121 firearms from three different federally licensed firearms dealers in Jacksonville, with 67 of those firearms being purchased between January and June 2024. Hobbs then sold those firearms to others. On multiple occasions, Hobbs advertised firearms for sale to potential customers before acquiring the firearms from the federally licensed firearms dealer.

Customers typically paid Hobbs in cash for the firearms. Hobbs also traded drugs for the firearms. Hobbs was aware that some of his customers intended to resell the firearms, were drug users, or were drug distributors. Hobbs also asked his co-conspirators to assist him in finding buyers for the firearms and the co-conspirators advertised Hobbs's firearms for sale. Hobbs told others that he "deal[s]" in firearms, bragging he was "Mr. Cocaine addict firearms trafficker." Records indicated that Hobbs had made more than $200,000 in illegal proceeds in less than 36 months. Although he engaged in the business of dealing firearms, Hobbs is not a federally licensed firearms dealer, as required by federal law. When Hobbs purchased the firearms from licensed firearms dealers, he indicated on the required ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer or transferee of the firearms. In addition, Hobbs indicated that he was not a user of or addicted to controlled substances. Both statements were false. Hobbs intended to sell the firearms and therefore was not the actual buyer or transferee of them. Hobbs was also a habitual user of controlled substances and was distributing controlled substances, including over 500 grams of cocaine and Adderall. Hobbs routinely advertised controlled substances for sale and coordinated narcotics transactions and often sold the controlled substances to the same individuals to whom he was selling firearms. On June 26, 2024, Hobbs was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for driving under the influence and trafficking in cocaine. During a search of Hobbs's car, officers recovered more than 200 grams of cocaine and 17 grams of Adderall, as well as various items used to package and distribute controlled substances.

In related court proceedings, co-conspirator Alton Wayne Cope III was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and conspiring to deal in firearms without a license. Jayden Lance Cope was sentenced to six years for conspiring to deal in firearms without a license and unlawful receipt of a firearm after being indicted.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the North Florida HIDTA Tri-County Narcotics Task Force with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.