ARMED DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR NARCOTICS AND FIREARM OFFENSES

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - Eric Shirone Thompson, 47, of Gainesville, Florida was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "My office is dedicated to making our community the safest place to live and raise children. Today's sentence is another achievement in furtherance of that objective. But we will not stop here. We will continue to aggressively prosecute armed drug traffickers like Mr. Thompson who present a danger to the health and safety of our community until all drug trafficking organizations in our community are dismantled and eliminated."

According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Thompson's residence, where they found Thompson attempting to flush fentanyl down a toilet. During a search of the residence, law enforcement also located two loaded firearms and drug paraphernalia consistent with drug dealing, including baggies and cooking utensils with cocaine residue. Additional investigation revealed that Thompson conspired with other individuals to possess and distribute cocaine, marijuana, and "molly" in the Northern District of Florida.

The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Gainesville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.

"This joint investigation involving state and federal law enforcement agencies shows how integral partnerships are in the fight against drug traffickers," said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. "We each bring specific skills to the investigation, and this leads to more success. These communities will benefit greatly from this drug trafficker being off the streets."

"This case and subsequent federal prosecution sends a clear message: we will not tolerate drug trafficking in our community. We remain committed to working with our federal partners to hold offenders accountable and protect the safety of our residents," said Chief Moya of the Gainesville Police Department.

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 available 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.