Jesse Lee McKenzie, a 43-year-old resident of Jacksonville, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison for threatening to retaliate against a witness in a federal case, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe on Mar. 6.
The sentencing follows McKenzie's guilty plea entered on October 28, 2025. The case highlights the risks faced by witnesses involved in federal investigations and underscores the legal consequences of using social media platforms to intimidate or threaten individuals cooperating with law enforcement.
Court documents show that after an associate of McKenzie was indicted for distributing methamphetamine, McKenzie posted on his Facebook page identifying a witness in the drug trafficking case by name and photograph. In his post, he called the individual a “snitch” and threatened physical harm, stating he would “wire that snitch box up” as retaliation for the witness’s involvement. He also solicited information about the witness’s location by offering a “tip” in exchange.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation into McKenzie's actions. Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as a nationwide initiative utilizing Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime perpetrators. The operation brings together efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
McKenzie's sentence serves as an example of how threats against witnesses are treated seriously under federal law.
