JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced to 14 years and three months in federal prison after pleading guilty in August to conspiring to distribute marijuana and to charges tied to a drive‑by shooting on I-95, the Department of Justice said.
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Court documents say Briyhon Johnson, 24, served as an armed distributor for a Jacksonville-based drug trafficking organization led by Nathaniel Hatcher III.
The group trafficked bulk marijuana from northern California to Jacksonville by smuggling it on commercial airlines, shipping it through the U.S. mail and transporting it by vehicle across state lines. Once the drugs arrived, members stored and moved the marijuana through short-term rental homes around Jacksonville, often armed to protect the drugs and proceeds.
Prosecutors say Johnson also carried out violent acts for the group. On Sept. 18, 2023, Hatcher, James Toney and other members arranged a drug deal in Jacksonville that failed when the buyers stole about $45,000 in cash from Hatcher and Toney.
According to the filings, Hatcher enlisted Christopher Barr, a former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office police officer, to illegally obtain the names and home addresses of the suspected thieves. For nearly a month, Johnson and other members tracked and surveilled the suspects and their family members.
On Oct. 15, 2023, Johnson and Toney broke into a rental car lot at Jacksonville International Airport and stole two vehicles they planned to use in retaliation, the records show.
Two days later, after one of the suspected thieves left the Duval County courthouse, members of the drug trafficking organization followed him. Prosecutors say Johnson provided a firearm to Toney; Johnson, Toney, Hatcher and others then followed the man’s car onto I‑95.
During the pursuit, the records say, the suspects boxed the man’s car into the left lane and Toney and Hatcher fired dozens of rounds of 7.62‑caliber ammunition. Witnesses reported that Johnson and Toney wore masks. Deputies recovered about 25 spent shell casings. Ballistics testing indicated two different firearms were used.
The driver, a man who had been at the courthouse, was shot once and survived; he was airlifted to a trauma center. A woman who had been in the car suffered injuries from broken glass and was treated at a hospital. The vehicle sustained multiple bullet strikes, prosecutors said.
In related proceedings, Hatcher pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, conspiracy to commit money laundering, committing a drive‑by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He faces at least 20 years in prison and up to life plus 45 years, and has agreed to forfeit more than $2 million in illicit proceeds.
Other co‑defendants’ cases are at various stages:
- Al’Donta Easterling was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
- Yaquasia DelCarmen was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
- Desmond Maxwell pleaded guilty to straw‑purchasing firearms and faces up to 25 years.
- Javon Davis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and faces five to 40 years.
- Tavarius Blue pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and to charges tied to the drive‑by shooting; he faces a minimum of 15 years, up to life plus 65 years.
- Darion Jerido pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and to aiding the drive‑by shooting; he faces a minimum of five years, up to 65 years.
- James Toney pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and to committing the drive‑by shooting and related firearm charges; he faces a minimum of 15 years, up to life.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisibeth Adams.