On the heels of a violent episode along I-95 in St. Johns, Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced the indictment of three Jacksonville men on federal charges related to a drive-by shooting and various drug trafficking offenses. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Nathaniel Thomas Hatcher, III (28), and James Toney (20) stand accused of the shooting on October 17, 2023, and if convicted, face severe mandatory minimum sentences.
Hatcher, also facing additional charges for a litany of crimes including conspiracy to distribute marijuana and straw-purchasing firearms, could receive a sentence of 20 years to life in prison plus 115 years. Toney, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years for his part, could similarly face up to life imprisonment plus 45 years. Al'Donta Easterling (26) is charged with crimes including marijuana distribution and could face 10 years to life, plus a consecutive 60 years. As per the indictment, every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case extends its roots beyond these three, as a part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, which targets high-level criminal enterprises. Desmond Maxwell (28) and Yaquasia DelCarmen (28) have already pleaded guilty to related offenses, with Maxwell facing up to 25 years and DelCarmen up to 40 years in federal prison. DayJon Major (21) is charged with possessing illegal firearms and awaits trial in state custody.
An interagency collaboration is credited for the investigation's progress, combining the expertise of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and numerous other federal, state, and local law enforcement entities. The prosecution of the case is currently in the hands of Assistant United States Attorneys Aakash Singh and Kirwinn Mike. The alleged crimes illustrate a network of illegal activities that the OCDETF aims to unravel and, ultimately, dismantle.
Detailed proceedings are scheduled to continue into the fall, with trials for the arrested individuals set to commence on November 4.
