FORT MYERS, FL – Keith Dewayne Drayton Jr., 27, is facing a hefty federal sentence after admitting to illegally possessing both a loaded handgun and nearly a half-ounce of crack cocaine. The plea, entered today, adds another layer to Drayton’s already lengthy criminal history, landing him back in the federal system after a previous firearms conviction.
The bust went down on June 17th, when Fort Myers Police Department officers attempted a routine traffic stop. It quickly turned into a foot chase as the vehicle Drayton was riding in sped off, and both he and the driver bailed out. Near the front passenger door, where Drayton had been sitting, officers recovered a loaded Glock handgun. A search of the vehicle revealed a satchel containing a prescription bottle with Drayton’s name and a baggie filled with approximately 13.5 grams of crack cocaine.
Officers eventually found Drayton attempting to hide in a nearby dumpster. The discovery is particularly damning given Drayton’s past: a prior federal prison sentence for a previous firearms offense. Federal law explicitly prohibits convicted felons like Drayton from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Drayton now faces a maximum of 15 years behind bars for the illegal firearm possession and a further 20 years for the cocaine charge, potentially totaling 35 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been announced, leaving Drayton to await his fate.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Fort Myers Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon R. Eth is prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts.
The PSN program, recently bolstered with a renewed focus on community trust, strategic enforcement, and measurable results, aims to make neighborhoods safer by tackling violent crime at its source. This case serves as a clear example of the program’s intent: removing illegally possessed firearms and dangerous drugs from the streets and holding repeat offenders accountable.”
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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