KEY POINTS
A 21-year-old Gainesville man has been sentenced to 35 years and 3 months in federal prison for a series of drug-trafficking and firearms violations, including the illegal possession of a machinegun. Lagarius Joseph Johnson received the sentence in the Northern District of Florida following a conviction for possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and possessing a machinegun in furtherance of a drug crime.
Details of the Investigation
The case against Johnson began after law enforcement received reports that he and others were in possession of firearms, including a machinegun, at the Majestic Oaks apartments. Officers initiated surveillance and identified Johnson, who was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his prior criminal history.
When officers attempted to make contact, Johnson gestured with his hand inside his jacket pocket, leading police to believe he was armed. After officers identified themselves, Johnson fled on foot, discarding a backpack, cellphone, and a pistol during the pursuit. He was ultimately apprehended with the assistance of a police canine.
Investigators discovered a distributable quantity of marijuana, empty plastic baggies, and a digital scale inside the abandoned backpack. A subsequent examination of the discarded pistol revealed it had been illegally modified with a machinegun conversion device, which rendered the weapon fully automatic.
Further evidence was uncovered through search warrants for Johnson’s cellphone and social media accounts. The search revealed numerous photos of Johnson posing with firearms, large sums of cash, and posts advertising marijuana for sale, including some made on the same day as his arrest.
A Coordinated Law Enforcement Effort
The conviction was the result of a joint operation involving multiple local, state, and federal agencies. U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin framed the sentence as a fulfillment of a key federal initiative. “Operation Take Back America is a promise by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will do everything in our power to stop those who pose a danger to our communities,” Heekin stated.
Local and state officials echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the danger posed by the combination of illegal drugs and firearms. “The combination of illegal narcotics and illegally possessed firearms, especially a machine gun, presents an extreme threat to public safety,” said Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya. Mark Glass, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), added that the sentence “sends a clear message” that such criminal activity will be met with the “full force of local, state and federal law enforcement.”
Federal partners also highlighted the successful collaboration. “Drug trafficking is a dangerous endeavor and leads to increased violence in our communities,” said Deanne L. Reuter, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Miami Field Division. Kirk Howard, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Tampa Field Division, called the outcome “an incredible public safety win for residents of North Central Florida.”
Connection to National and Local Initiatives
The case was prosecuted under Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating violent crime and dismantling criminal organizations. This program coordinates resources from task forces like the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
As part of its local PSN strategy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is also promoting a public safety message, encouraging residents to lock their car doors. Authorities note that burglaries from unlocked vehicles are a major source of firearms for criminals in the region.
Sentence and Additional Charges
In addition to his 35-year prison term, Johnson will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit the seized firearm and the conversion device. Johnson also faces separate, unrelated state charges for attempted first-degree murder involving a machinegun in Alachua County, where he has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent.
