Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Kendrick J. Hills Jr., a 23-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida, has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “My office is committed to backing up our brave men and woman of law enforcement on the front lines of this battle against drugs and violence in our communities. We will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America to ensure our streets are safe and our communities are drug-free.”
According to court records, Hills was stopped by law enforcement for several traffic violations. Officers noticed marijuana in his vehicle both by sight and smell, which was further confirmed by a K9 unit present at the scene. A search revealed a stolen 9-millimeter pistol on the driver’s floorboard, another .40-caliber pistol with an extended magazine under the seat, and a backpack containing nearly one pound of marijuana along with paraphernalia commonly used for drug distribution such as scales and baggies. Hills admitted he carried firearms for self-protection due to risks associated with drug-related robberies.
Sheriff Chad D. Scott from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office commented: “This case is an example of the proactive work our deputies do every day to identify criminal activity before it escalates into something even more dangerous. Through strong partnerships with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office, we are sending a clear message: Alachua County will not tolerate drug distribution and the armed criminal behavior that so often accompanies it.”
Daniel Escobar, Special Agent in Charge at DEA Tampa Field Division, added: “I’m proud of the way our agents and officers from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office came together to bring this criminal to justice. We have great relationships with our North Florida law enforcement partners, and I look forward to our continued enforcement efforts together.”
After serving his prison sentence, Hills will be subject to seven years of supervised release; any violation could result in additional imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), as well as protecting communities from violent crime including human trafficking and drug offenses.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates as one among 94 offices representing federal interests under guidance from the Attorney General. Public court documents can be accessed through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website; additional information about their activities is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
