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Braden Huston Hobbs, a 28-year-old from Ponte Vedra, has been sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for his role in a massive firearms and cocaine trafficking operation in Jacksonville, Florida. Between March 2022 and June 2024, Hobbs purchased at least 121 firearms from federally licensed dealers, which he then sold to others, often in exchange for cash or drugs. Hobbs was aware that many of his customers intended to resell the firearms or use them for illicit activities.
Hobbs’s operation was uncovered after several firearms he had purchased were recovered during law enforcement investigations, including from the homes of drug dealers and a convicted felon. Undercover agents also purchased 11 firearms from Hobbs’s co-conspirators, Alton Wayne Cope III and Jayden Lance Cope, who were also prosecuted.
Hobbs’s scheme involved advertising firearms for sale to potential customers before acquiring them from licensed dealers. He would then sell the firearms to his customers, often using his co-conspirators to find buyers. Hobbs bragged about his operation, calling himself the “Mr. Cocaine addict firearms trafficker.” His actions have now landed him a 9-year sentence in federal prison.
The investigation and prosecution of Hobbs’s case involved the collaboration of several law enforcement agencies, including the ATF and DEA. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat firearms trafficking and the illicit drug trade in Florida.
