Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Kirkland George Lawrence (34, Jacksonville), a/k/a “Killa,” to eight years and nine months in federal prison for attempted distribution of heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and distribution of cocaine. The court also ordered Lawrence to forfeit the Smith & Wesson pistol that he had used in one of the offenses. 

Lawrence had pleaded guilty on June 28, 2019.

According to court documents, in April 2018, Lawrence agreed to sell drugs to a confidential informant (CI) working at the direction of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The CI traveled to Lawrence’s apartment in the Arlington area of Jacksonville, where Lawrence sold a powder to the CI that Lawrence had represented to be heroin. It was later determined that the substance did not contain heroin. At the time of the sale, Lawrence was seated at a kitchen table, within reach of a pistol, and holding an infant.

The following day, the CI returned to Lawrence’s apartment after Lawrence agreed to sell a firearm. Inside the apartment, Lawrence brandished a pistol while additional firearms were visible on a sofa and on the floor. Lawrence also retrieved an Uzi pistol from a kitchen cabinet and displayed it to the CI. Lawrence then retrieved a Smith and Wesson pistol from outside of the apartment and sold it to the CI. Approximately two weeks later, following the execution of a search warrant at his apartment, Lawrence was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. At the time, Lawrence was in possession of another Smith & Wesson pistol.

In October 2018, while on bond for his previous arrest, Lawrence sold cocaine to the CI on three occasions. Lawrence was arrested again and admitted to the officers that he believed that the purported heroin that he had sold in April 2018 was genuine. During these incidents, Lawrence had a prior felony conviction for attempted armed robbery and is therefore prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of indictments charging Jacksonville residents Natario Bernard Peterson, Dashawn Leon Rose, Jacoby Devonta Hartley, Kirkland George Lawrence, Bruce Marcell Wilson, Keron Jodan Taylor, and Bryant Lloyd Wright with federal drug and firearms charges. The indictments also notify the defendants that United States intends to forfeit the firearms used in these offenses and any proceeds traceable to the offenses. If convicted on these charges, these defendants face the following minimum and maximum penalties:



Name (age)





Charges





Maximum Penalties





Natario Bernard Peterson,

a/k/a “Nite Ryda”

(24)





Sale of a firearm to a convicted felon.

Distribution of crack cocaine (3 counts).





Up to 10 years in federal prison.

Up to 20 years in federal prison per count.





Dashawn Leon Rose, a/k/a “Whop”

(21)





Distribution of crack cocaine.

Possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.





Up to 20 years in federal prison.

Minimum mandatory 5 years, and up to life in federal prison.





Jacoby Devonta Hartley, a/k/a “Lil’ Coby”

(22)





Distribution of crack cocaine.





Up to 20 years in federal prison.





Kirkland George Lawrence, a/k/a “Killa”

(33)





Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.





Up to 10 years in federal prison.





Bruce Marcell Wilson

(38)





Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2 counts).

Distribution of a controlled substance analogue.





Up to 10 years in federal prison, per count.

Up to 20 years in federal prison.





Keron Jodan Taylor

(33)





Distribution of a controlled substance analogue.





Up to 20 years in federal prison.





Bryant Lloyd Wright

(29)





Distribution of cocaine (2 counts).

Distribution of heroin.





Up to 30 years in federal prison, per count.

Up to 30 years in federal prison.



According to the indictments, at various times in 2018, these individuals distributed controlled substances and controlled substance analogues and were illegally in possession of firearms or illegally disposed of firearms to a convicted felon.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.        

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and David Mesrobian.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.