ATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
12/29/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/29/2025 10:59
TWO HAVANA BROTHERS SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION BY CONVICTED FELONS (DOJ)
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - Nicholas Wayne Finley, 37, and Jason Dean Atkinson, 43, both of Havana, Florida, were sentenced to prison for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. Finley was sentenced to 54 months in prison, while Atkinson was sentenced to 37 months. Both brothers will be on supervised release for three years following their release from prison. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "The family that does crime together does time together. Thanks to the tremendous work of our local and federal law enforcement partners, this pair of dangerous felons have been incapacitated and now find themselves in federal prison. My office remains committed to keeping our community safe by aggressively prosecuting the perpetrators of violent crime who threaten our streets."
Court documents reflect that federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at the two brothers' residence on July 10, 2025. Officers found nine firearms in Finley's bedroom along with numerous types of ammunition. Atkinson was found with a round of .45 caliber ammunition in his pocket, and a .45 caliber 1911-style firearm with obliterated manufacturer's markings and additional ammunition was found in Atkinson's trailer.
Finley had multiple prior felony convictions from Iowa, while Atkinson had a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking, along with two Florida convictions for possession of methamphetamine.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Havana Police Department. 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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Contact
United States Attorney's Office
Northern District of Florida
X: @USAO_NDFL
Updated December 29, 2025
ATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives published this content on December 29, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 29, 2025 at 16:59 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]