Ocala man gets 20 years for Pensacola bar robbery, shooting

PENSACOLA, Fla. — An Ocala man has been sentenced for an armed robbery and shooting at a Pensacola bar.

Quinton L. Pete, 35, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for attempted Hobbs Act robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A federal jury found Pete guilty of all charges related to the incident in August 2023 after a three-day trial.

Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“The investigation and prosecution of violent crime—in this case by an armed repeat offender—is central to our mission to protect the public,” said Coody.

“This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with such federal crimes of violence.”

The evidence produced at trial revealed that, on March 9, 2022, a few minutes before 4 a.m., two employees at Coyote’s Sports Bar on Bayou Blvd. in Pensacola were shot at point-blank range by Pete during an attempted robbery of the business.

The victims were not able to identify the shooter at the time because of their wounds, but they provided a general description to law enforcement. Pete was apprehended the next day in Dallas, Texas, driving a matching white Jeep Grand Cherokee that was registered to him.

Pete was reportedly in possession of the firearm that was used in the commission of the robbery, as later identified by ballistics comparison.

“This case is another excellent example of the collaboration between local, state, and federal partners working together to ensure the safety of our community,” said Chief Eric Randall, Pensacola Police.

“We will continue to utilize every resource available to ensure our community is safe. This sentence should serve as a reminder there are consequences for your actions.”

Pete’s imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of multiple other law enforcement agencies including the Pensacola Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Grand Prairie Police Department in Dallas, Texas, the United States Marshals, and the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit. Assistant United States Attorneys David Goldberg and Jessica Etherton prosecuted the case.