A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges that include taking part in a drive-by shooting on I-95. Briyhon Johnson, 24, committed the act as part of a broader conspiracy to distribute large quantities of marijuana, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The court sentenced Johnson for his role in aiding and abetting the commission of a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, among other charges. Court documents revealed that Johnson worked as an armed distributor for a drug trafficking organization led by Nathaniel Hatcher, III. This organization was responsible for moving bulk marijuana from Northern California to Jacksonville, utilizing different methods such as commercial airlines, the U.S. mail system, and vehicles to transport the drugs across state lines.
On September 18, 2023, a drug deal went awry when the other party neither provided the marijuana as promised nor did they return with the $45,000 in cash they stole from Hatcher and associate, James Toney. After obtaining information from a corrupt former police officer, Johnson and co-conspirators engaged in a concerning period of tracking and cyber-stalking against their targets. They stole vehicles from the Jacksonville International Airport on October 15, 2023, which were then used in the infamous shootout on I-95, wounding one and injuring another by shattered glass, as mentioned by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The aftermath of the shoot-out brought to light the coordinated actions of the drug trafficking organization, with Johnson playing a key role. A total of 25 spent 7.62 caliber shell casings were recovered from the scene, pointing to the intense nature of the attack. Hatcher, the ringleader, faces at least 20 years in prison for his part in the drug conspiracy and violent acts. Co-conspirators within the DTO saw a range of sentences, with some still pending their fate in ongoing court proceedings.
Officials said the case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal initiative focused on reducing violent crime and gun violence. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation, and resulted in charges against several members of a Jacksonville-based drug trafficking organization.
