FLORIDA – Two Florida men have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison for firearm and drug-related offenses, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida said in a statement.
According to Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Alexander Clifford Nelms, 43, and Jorvin Jermaine Cockran, 36, both of Miami, Florida, were convicted and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for their crimes.
Nelms pled guilty to one count of possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine on July 27, 2021, and was sentenced on November 15, 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cockran was convicted at trial on February 11, 2022, of one count of possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and sentenced this week.
“Concerted law enforcement partnerships like the Alachua County Drug Task Force serve a vital role in protecting our communities from armed drug traffickers,” said Coody.
“These brave law enforcement officers place their lives in danger each day to remove firearms and addictive drugs from our streets. We remain vigilant to hold these criminals accountable.”
On January 20, 2021, a Gainesville Police Department officer reportedly conducted a traffic stop on a minivan for speeding. Nelms was identified as the driver and Cockran was reportedly the front seat passenger.
While conducting his traffic enforcement duties the officer said he detected the odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle and received conflicting information from the subjects as to their travel plans.
An Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputy reportedly arrived on the scene as backup and deployed his narcotics detection canine partner to conduct an open-air sniff of the minivan.
Lawmen said the canine alerted to the odor of narcotics, so they detained Nelms and Cockran in the rear of a patrol vehicle and searched the minivan, and reportedly located one kilogram of cocaine in a gym bag between the driver and passenger seats, another two-ounce package of cocaine, some marijuana and THC cartridges, and two loaded firearms within ready reach and access of Cockran, according to police.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Nelms had multiple prior felony convictions, including a prior trafficking in Roxicodone in the State of Florida.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Nelms’ 10 years’ imprisonment will be followed by eight years of supervised release, and Cockran’s 10 years’ imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervise release.
This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Elsey.
