A Miami Gardens resident appeared in federal court following his indictment on charges related to drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and shooting at an Uber driver. The man, identified as Lester Leon Sanders, 47, was charged after a grand jury in Miami returned an indictment accusing him of drug crimes, using and firing a gun during the commission of those crimes, and illegal possession of a firearm due to a prior felony conviction.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva commented on the case: “This defendant shot repeatedly at an innocent man who stopped a crime as it was happening. It was through the bravery of the Uber driver that police were alerted and able stop the movement of almost a kilogram of pure cocaine from hitting the streets of Miami. The Criminal Division will pursue violent drug dealers in every city in America.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida stated: “There is a real and dangerous link between drug trafficking and gun violence. According to the indictment, this defendant arranged a drug deal and then fired multiple shots at a rideshare driver. That kind of alleged conduct turns a drug crime into a life-threatening situation in seconds. Federal law treats that combination seriously, with a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years if convicted.”
Court documents allege that on October 29, 2024, Sanders reserved an Uber ride share service. When the vehicle arrived, Sanders and another individual loaded three suitcases into it. During this process, the Uber driver reportedly saw a firearm magazine fall from Sanders’s clothing.
After entering the car with Sanders, the driver left but soon after was instructed by Sanders to stop. Once outside the vehicle, Sanders began shouting while the driver drove away with his luggage still inside. As he sped off, Sanders allegedly fired approximately five shots at him.
The Uber driver subsequently notified police about what had occurred. Authorities arrested Sanders shortly afterward and recovered several items from inside the Uber: nearly one kilogram (929 grams) of cocaine with high purity levels, six pounds of marijuana, additional ammunition including a loaded large-capacity magazine, as well as paraphernalia such as scales and small bags commonly used for packaging drugs. Shell casings were also found near where shots were fired.
If convicted on all counts, Sanders faces at least 15 years in prison with potential for up to life imprisonment.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI Miami Field Office along with support from Miami Gardens Police Department.
Trial Attorneys Jennifer Burns and Jinah Chang from the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.
This prosecution falls under efforts by federal authorities to address violent crime in Miami through collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies targeting gang-related offenses using federal statutes and resources.
Authorities remind that indictments are allegations only; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
Further information about this case can be accessed via the District Court for the Southern District of Florida website (www.flsd.uscourts.gov) or through PACER (http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov), under case number 26-cr-20029.
