Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Christ’Avian X’Zayvia Rayshon Sheard, a 19-year-old from Pensacola, Florida, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. The sentence follows his guilty plea for possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentencing.
Court records reveal that on April 2, 2024, Sheard was found with marijuana and a loaded Taurus 9 millimeter pistol in a vehicle parked at Sanders Beach. At the time, he had previous felony convictions for aggravated assault by threat with a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “Operation Take Back America is a promise by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will do everything in our power to stop those who are victimizing our communities, and keeping a violent felon like this one off the streets is exactly what they meant. I am proud of the work of our brave state and federal law enforcement partners who investigated this case, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders to keep our communities safe.”
Chief Randall of the Pensacola Police Department commented: “Pensacola Police is committed to reducing guns crimes and will continue to work with our federal law enforcement partners to hold everyone accountable that chooses to illegally possess a firearm in our city.”
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Pensacola Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative aiming to address illegal immigration issues while eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) through coordinated efforts from various justice departments including OCDETFs and PSN.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates as one of 94 offices under the direction of the Attorney General handling litigation matters across different jurisdictions.
