Jacksonville Convicted Felon Indicted for Possessing a Firearm While Trafficking in Fentanyl
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a three-count indictment charging Johnny Deangelo White (45, Jacksonville) with possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, White faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the fentanyl offense, up to 5 years’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and up to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The indictment also notifies White that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense. White was arrested in Jacksonville and made his initial appearance on July 14, 2022, before United States Magistrate Judge Joel B. Toomey and following his detention hearing on July 21, 2022, he was ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, on April 27, 2022, White was in possession of a firearm while trafficking in fentanyl. At the time of the incident, White had previous felony convictions for shooting or throwing a deadly missile, grand theft auto, two possession of cocaine offenses, and three prior sale of cocaine offenses. As a previously convicted felon, White is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
