Lake City Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Drug Offenses
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that John Nathan Hemingway (52, Lake City) has pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base (also known as “crack” cocaine) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hemingway faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years, and up to life, in federal prison. He had been indicted on March 9, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, on multiple occasions, a confidential informant (CI) purchased crack cocaine that had been supplied by Hemingway at his home in Lake City. Following these controlled purchases, a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a federal search warrant authorizing the search of Hemingway’s home. On February 15, 2022, law enforcement searched the home and located a digital scale, plastic baggies, $11,216.11 in cash, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, methamphetamine, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine.
As part of his plea, Hemingway agreed to forfeit the cash, firearm, and ammunition found in his home.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is handling the forfeiture of assets.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
