A Tallahassee man is facing the possibility of life behind bars after pleading guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and firearms charges, federal prosecutors announced Sept. 22.
Ramon Velazquez Rodas, 46, admitted to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
“This case demonstrates the value of close collaboration between our local and federal law enforcement officers to target, investigate, and arrest the criminals flooding our streets with deadly drugs,” U.S. Attorney Jack Heekin said in a statement. “My office remains committed to backing up the hard work of our law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions to keep our communities safe.”
The charges stem from an August 2022 search of a Tallahassee residence, part of a broader investigation into drug trafficking. According to court documents, law enforcement officers found Velazquez Rodas in a bedroom with another individual. Inside the room, they discovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, a stolen handgun, $2,900 in cash, and other items they say are consistent with drug distribution.
Velazquez Rodas has a lengthy criminal history, including prior felony convictions for burglary, possession of burglary tools, dealing in stolen property, and drug offenses, according to a news release. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4 before U.S. District Judge Mark Walker at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee.
The case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at “dismantling drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime in communities across the country.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee man pleads guilty to federal drug, firearms charges, prosecutors say
Reporting by Staff report / Tallahassee Democrat
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