Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Dovico Raynard Miles, also known as “Vico,” age 47, of Gainesville, Florida, has been sentenced to 270 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to several drug and firearm charges and for violating the terms of his supervised release. The charges included possession with intent to distribute significant amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, N,N-Dimethlpentylone, and marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence. Heekin stated: “This is yet another successful prosecution under Operation Take Back America, through which President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have unleashed the full might of the Department of Justice to eliminate the threats to the safety of our communities by drug traffickers and violent felons, like this defendant. We will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute anyone who peddles this poison on our streets.”
According to court records from 2022, two armed individuals broke into Miles’s residence aiming to steal drugs and cash. During the incident, one intruder shot and killed Miles’s niece. After Miles returned fire causing both robbers to flee, he hid large amounts of drugs and firearms outside his home. Law enforcement later recovered over 1,000 grams of cocaine, more than 70 grams of cocaine base, upwards of 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, over 70 grams of marijuana, several firearms, and more than $10,000 in cash.
At that time, Miles was on federal supervised release following a 2008 conviction related to trafficking cocaine and cocaine base. He was also barred from possessing firearms due to eight prior felony convictions.
Chief Nelson Moya from the Gainesville Police Department commented: “We have zero tolerance for violent crime and will work with all our partners to seek justice. Keeping our community safe from guns and drugs will always be a priority.”
Cheryl Harrell, Acting Special Agent in Charge at ATF Tampa Field Division said: “Floridians are much safer with this violent drug dealer behind bars. This joint investigation is yet another reminder that serious crimes come with serious penalties.”
DEA Miami Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Bobbitt added: “Bringing this poly-drug distributor to justice will make North Florida communities safer. Methamphetamine can tear apart families and its impact on communities is immeasurable.”
Miles received a sentence of 240 months for his gun and drug offenses plus an additional 30 months for violating supervised release conditions. After serving his prison term he will be placed on federal supervised release for another ten years.
The case resulted from a joint investigation involving the Gainesville Police Department (https://www.gainesvillepd.org/), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (https://www.atf.gov/), and Drug Enforcement Administration (https://www.dea.gov/). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner along with former Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Elsey.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative using Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration as well as cartel- or transnational criminal organization-related activity involving violence or trafficking.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates as one among 94 offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General nationwide. More information about their work can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
