Ponte Vedra Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Traffic Firearms And Controlled Substances

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Braden Huston Hobbs (27, Ponte Vedra) has pleaded guilty to 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. Hobbs faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the conspiracy offense, up to 10 years' imprisonment for the false statement offense, and a minimum of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison for the drug offense. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents and court proceedings, law enforcement began investigating Hobbs after learning that several firearms purchased by him were recovered during unrelated law enforcement investigations. These firearms were recovered in the homes of drug distributors and a convicted felon. Additionally, during a series of controlled purchases conducted in the summer of 2024, 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 later showed that Jayden Cope regularly purchased firearms from Hobbs.

Further investigation revealed that between March 2022 and June 2024, Hobbs had purchased at least 120 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 or traded drugs in exchange 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 people that he "deal[s]" in firearms. Although he engaged in the business of dealing firearms, Hobbs was not a federally licensed firearms dealer, as required by federal law.

When Hobbs purchased the firearms from the federally 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 as Hobbs intended to sell the firearms and therefore was not the actual buyer or transferee of them. Further, he was a habitual user of controlled substances.

In addition, Hobbs distributed controlled substances, including over 500 grams of cocaine and Adderall. Hobbs routinely advertised controlled substances for sale and coordinated narcotics transactions. Hobbs 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 seized 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, Alton Wayne Cope III was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and conspiring to deal firearms without a license. Jayden Lance Cope has pleaded guilty to conspiring to deal firearms without a license. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 2025.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the United States 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Project Safe Neighborhoods.