Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Derrick Bernard Farmer (41, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty on July 6, 2016.
According to court documents, 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 officers 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 was 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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods" Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also part of the PSN Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI). CAGI’s objective is to reduce criminal gangs, violent crime, and illegal drugs and guns through swift, thorough enforcement and prosecution, along with prevention and re-entry efforts.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
