Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Natario Bernard Peterson (22, Jacksonville) to five years in federal prison for distributing crack cocaine. Peterson had pleaded guilty on March 27, 2019.

According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, Peterson, a mid-level member of the Rollin’ 20s gang, sold crack cocaine to an undercover detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) on three occasions in 2018. On one of those occasions, Peterson teamed up with co-defendant Dashawn Rose to sell the crack cocaine. During the transaction, Rose was concealing a large, AR-style pistol with a drum magazine in his pants.

On July 18, 2019, Rose pleaded guilty to distribution of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing is set for October 30, 2019.

At the time, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with JSO, was conducting a long-term investigation of the Rollin’ 20s gang. In September 2018, Peterson admitted that he had authorized another Rollin’ 20s gang member, David Brian Edwards, to carjack his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint.  Edwards entered his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle and forced her, at gunpoint, to follow another vehicle, which was driven by Peterson. After the vehicles came to a stop, Edwards put his gun to the victim’s head and told her that he was there to kill her. Edwards then hit the victim in the face multiple times with the gun and kicked her as she escaped from the vehicle.

Edwards was prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office and sentenced to 20 years in state prison for his role in the armed carjacking.

In September and October 2018, Peterson stated his intention to prevent the carjacking victim and a witness from testifying against him. In one conversation, he stated that he was going to get the witness “out the way” and “we gonna have a funeral.”

“This sentencing represents ATF’s commitment to continually work with our law enforcement partners to protect the citizens of our communities from those that choose to commit violent firearms-related crimes,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office, Fourth Judicial Circuit. It is being 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.