Steinhatchee man pleads guilty to federal drug & gun crimes (DOJ)

Press Release

Steinhatchee Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug & Gun Crimes

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Share

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida

Tallahassee, Florida - David Christopher Jensen, 54, of Steinhatchee, Florida, has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the plea.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Thanks to the excellent investigative work of the Taylor County Sheriff's Office and ATF, this armed drug trafficker has been taken off our streets and the successful prosecution by my office will ensure he remains behind bars where he belongs."

The investigation revealed that on September 25, 2025, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), along with the Taylor County Sheriff's Office, executed two federal search warrants on the defendant's primary residence and his storage unit. During the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement seized cocaine and marijuana that was intended for distribution. Law enforcement also located several firearms, including a short-barreled rifle. During an interview with law enforcement, the defendant admitted ownership over the narcotics and firearms.

Jensen faces up to 20 years' imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and up to 10 years' imprisonment for possession of an unregistered firearm.

The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Taylor County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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 Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.

Contact

United States Attorney's Office
Northern District of Florida
[email protected]
X: @USAO_NDFL