PENSACOLA MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR INTERSTATE DRUG TRAFFICKING OPERATION (DOJ)

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - Jafari J. Williams, 48, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "I am incredibly proud of the excellent collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners that dismantled this drug trafficking operation, and this successful prosecution ensures this offender will be removed from our community for a long time. My office will not hesitate to target those who flood our streets with deadly drugs for aggressive prosecution and sentencing, and will deploy the full force of the law to keep our communities safe."

Court documents reflect that Williams was identified during a federal wiretap investigation conspiring with others regarding shipments of cocaine coming from Texas. During execution of a search warrant of a building where Williams maintained his contraband in Pensacola, law enforcement seized approximately seven and a half kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of methamphetamine, drug distribution paraphernalia, an AR-15-style rifle, and approximately $10,000 in United States currency.

"In total, eight law enforcement partners pulled resources and personnel to make this investigation a success," said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. "Pensacola communities will be safer with this drug distributor off the streets."

The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office; the Escambia County Sheriff's Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Pensacola Police Department; the Gulf Breeze Police Department; and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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