Braden Huston Hobbs of Ponte Vedra was sentenced on July 22 to nine years in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic firearms, making a materially false statement to a licensed firearms dealer, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including more than 500 grams of cocaine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger.
According to court documents and proceedings, authorities began investigating Hobbs after several firearms he purchased were recovered during separate law enforcement investigations from the homes of drug dealers and a convicted felon. Undercover agents also purchased 11 firearms from co-conspirators Alton Wayne Cope III and Jayden Lance Cope, with Hobbs identified as the original purchaser of multiple weapons involved.
Between March 2022 and June 2024, Hobbs acquired at least 121 firearms from three federally licensed dealers in Jacksonville, selling them or trading them for drugs. Of these purchases, 67 occurred between January and June 2024. Records showed that customers typically paid cash or exchanged drugs for the weapons; some buyers were known drug users or distributors. Hobbs told others he “deal[s]” in firearms and referred to himself as “Mr. Cocaine addict firearms trafficker.” He made over $200,000 in illegal proceeds within less than three years without holding a federal license required for dealing firearms.
When purchasing weapons from licensed dealers, Hobbs indicated on ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer or transferee of the guns and denied being a user or addict of controlled substances—both statements were found false by investigators. He routinely advertised controlled substances such as cocaine and Adderall for sale alongside his firearm sales.
Hobbs was arrested by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers on June 26, 2024, for driving under the influence and trafficking cocaine; more than 200 grams of cocaine and additional narcotics were found during a search of his vehicle.
In related cases, Alton Wayne Cope III received four years and three months in prison while Jayden Lance Cope received six years following convictions related to unlicensed firearm dealing offenses. The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; U.S. Secret Service; North Florida HIDTA Tri-County Narcotics Task Force with Florida Department of Law Enforcement; St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office; and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.