Gainesville Felon Pleads Guilty to Armed Drug Trafficking Charges

Gainesville, Florida - Eddie Jerome Scott, 38, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl; carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Time's up for the armed drug traffickers in the Northern District of Florida who think they can flood our streets with narcotics and violence without consequence. Through Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice is devoting its full might toward removing these thugs from our streets to deliver the safe, drug-free communities our citizens deserve."

Court documents reflect that the defendant sold methamphetamine at his home on two occasions in August and September 2025. During the September 2025 execution of a search warrant at the home, law enforcement seized over 1,232 grams of methamphetamine, 18.5 grams of cocaine, .29 grams of fentanyl, marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia, a money counter and a loaded .22-caliber pistol. The defendant has multiple prior felony drug convictions spanning from 2007 to 2018 which prohibit him from possessing firearms.

The defendant faces at least five years' imprisonment and a maximum potential sentence of life, which includes not less than five years' imprisonment consecutive to the drug sentences for the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

The case involved an investigation by the Gainesville Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie Utt.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 2:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.