Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Eddie Jerome Scott, a 38-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on several charges related to drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Scott faces two counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, as well as charges for possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville for his arraignment. His jury trial is set for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If found guilty, Scott could receive a minimum sentence of five years and up to forty years in prison for each methamphetamine distribution charge. The possession with intent to distribute charge carries a minimum ten-year sentence and could result in life imprisonment. The charge for possessing a firearm during drug trafficking also carries a minimum five-year sentence up to life imprisonment. Additionally, he faces up to fifteen years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt is prosecuting the case.
"An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of ninety-four offices nationwide serving as principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. Public court documents can be accessed through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. More information about the office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
