Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Brandon Martez Black, a 27-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, has been sentenced to over eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to court records, on June 8, 2024, Black fled from the Florida Highway Patrol during an attempted traffic stop. Law enforcement disabled his vehicle using a Precision Immobilization Technique. Black then escaped on foot and threw a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol into a residential backyard before being apprehended. The firearm was later recovered by officers.
Black had prior convictions related to drug trafficking. His latest conviction and sentence followed an investigation led by the Florida Highway Patrol, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp prosecuted the case.
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 pose a danger to our communities, and keeping a repeat offender 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.”
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative that uses resources from the Department of Justice—including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)—to address violent crime, illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is among 94 offices serving as principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. Additional information about public court documents can be found at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or through http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
