Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Derrick Bernard Farmer (40, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a minimum mandatory term of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, during January 2016, Farmer served as the crack cocaine source for two individuals who then sold the drugs to an undercover detective. On Feb. 3, 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Farmer’s apartment in Tampa and found crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and three firearms. Farmer had multiple prior felony drug convictions and therefore is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI). The program’s objective is to reduce criminal gangs, violent crime, illegal drugs, and guns through combined enforcement, prosecution, prevention, and re-entry efforts.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
