Sopchoppy Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun & Drug Crimes

Tallahassee, Florida - Howard Neil Martin, 46, of Sopchoppy, Florida, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense, 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: "Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners, and the aggressive prosecution of this repeat offender by my office, our community can rest assured he will spend several years in prison for his armed drug dealing. Keeping our streets safe and drug-free remains a top priority for my office, and we will continue to deliver successful prosecutions under the Department of Justices Operation Take Back America initiative."

Court documents reflect that Wakulla County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report about a burglary in progress. When they arrived, the defendant was parked in the driveway of the residence and in a verbal dispute with someone watching the residence for the homeowner. Officers could see a firearm in plain view inside the defendant's truck and upon running his criminal history, learned that he was a convicted felon. Officers ultimately searched the truck and located approximately half a pound of crystal methamphetamine.

"This joint investigation removes another methamphetamine trafficker from our North Florida communities," said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. "I'm thankful to our law enforcement partners for their support in bringing this criminal to justice."

Sheriff Jared F. Miller, Wakulla County Sheriff's Office said: "Cases like this highlight the ongoing threat illegal drugs and firearms pose to our community. I'm proud of our deputies for their quick response and strong partnership with our federal agencies to ensure dangerous offenders are held accountable."

When the defendant is released from prison, he will be on supervised release for a period of five years.

The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 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.

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 FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.