A Jacksonville man is headed to federal prison for a Facebook post that called out a witness in a drug case as a "snitch" and threatened to "wire that snitch box up." Jesse Lee McKenzie, 43, pleaded guilty last year to threatening to retaliate against a witness, and on Wednesday a federal judge handed him a 28-month sentence at the courthouse in downtown Jacksonville.
Sentence and plea details
Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard sentenced McKenzie to 28 months after he admitted posting the threats online and pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025, to threatening to retaliate against a witness, according to the case summary from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. The plea and sentence are part of the federal court record, which notes that the prison term stems directly from the online threats.
What he posted
According to News4JAX, court documents say McKenzie’s July 2025 Facebook post identified a witness in a federal drug trafficking investigation by name and photo, labeled that person a "snitch" and threatened physical harm, including the line "wire that snitch box up." The post also asked others for the witness’s whereabouts and offered to "tip" anyone who provided information. The filings note that an associate of McKenzie had been indicted on federal methamphetamine distribution charges.
What federal law covers this
Retaliation against witnesses is its own federal crime. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1513, it is illegal to retaliate against a witness, victim or informant, and the statute covers threats or attempts to harm someone for cooperating with law enforcement, according to Cornell Law School. Penalties depend on the conduct involved and can reach decades in prison in the most serious cases.
Investigation and wider enforcement
The FBI investigated the Facebook threats and the U.S. Attorney’s Office brought the case, the federal release states. Prosecutors described the effort as part of "Operation Take Back America," which relies on Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods resources to pursue violent and drug-related threats, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelli Swaney prosecuted the case for the government.
Prosecutors say the case is a reminder that what people post online can bring real criminal consequences when it targets witnesses and interferes with ongoing investigations. Anyone with information about the matter is urged to contact local law enforcement or the FBI's Jacksonville field office.
