Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Terrance Josiah Fasold, a 32-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges related to drugs and firearms. The charges include possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and more than 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “Our brave state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines every day fighting to keep our communities safe from violent, drug dealing criminals, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with successful prosecutions like this one to keep dangerous felons off our streets. Operation Take Back America is a promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will deploy the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the scourge of deadly drugs and criminal violence.”
According to court records, deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were investigating vehicle burglaries involving stolen firearms when they encountered Fasold on October 29, 2024, in a Pensacola hotel parking lot. Fasold fled on foot and left behind a bag containing a large amount of fentanyl under a parked vehicle. A subsequent search warrant executed at his hotel room led law enforcement officers to find additional fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, multiple firearms, and ammunition.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative using Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration issues as well as criminal organizations involved in violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one among 94 offices serving as principal litigators for the nation under guidance from the Attorney General. More information about public court documents can be found at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
