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Attorneys general

Guilty Verdict in Cocaine and Marijuana Possession Case

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A federal jury in the Northern District of Florida convicted Jarrel Daniel Rivaz, 35, of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. The guilty verdict marked the culmination of a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. U.S. Attorney Heekin praised the outstanding work of law enforcement partners in securing the conviction, emphasizing the Department of Justice's commitment to protecting communities from violent crime and drug trafficking.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jarrel Daniel Rivaz was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
  • The guilty verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
  • The verdict marked the culmination of a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
  • The evidence presented at trial established that law enforcement found and seized over 900 grams of cocaine, a large quantity of marijuana, two firearms, and ammunition from Rivaz's residence on December 21, 2023.
  • Rivaz had previously been convicted of a felony drug trafficking offense in New York under the name "Gerald Walker."
  • Sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II.
  • The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aligning efforts from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
  • Operation Take Back America aims to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from perpetrators of violent crime.
  • U.S. Attorney Heekin committed to aggressively prosecuting cases to keep communities safe from drug traffickers.

Statistics:

  • 900 grams of cocaine seized from Rivaz's residence
  • 500 grams or more of cocaine suspected in possession
  • 2 firearms, along with ammunition, found at the crime scene
  • 1 firearm found loaded in a locked shed with marijuana
  • A minimum mandatory term of 10 years' imprisonment is pending sentencing for Rivaz
  • A maximum possible sentence of life in prison faces Rivaz

Sources:

  • U.S. Attorney's Office, Department of Justice news release, July 22, 2025
  • https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline (Operation Take Back America webpage)

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