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Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty to Marijuana Distribution and Firearm Charges
Khalil Keari Barnett, 30, of Gainesville, Florida, has pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The incident occurred on no specific date in Gainesville, Florida, where Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call for service. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, Barnett left out the back door of the residence and attempted to enter a rideshare vehicle before fleeing on foot. As the defendant was fleeing, he threw a bag from his person, which included 600 grams of marijuana and a black mask. A firearm and box of ammunition were also recovered near the defendant.
Barnett is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as he has a prior conviction for possession of a weapon by a delinquent.
The defendant faces a total of up to life imprisonment on the combined possession with intent to distribute and firearm possession charges.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
Sentencing for Barnett is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 2:30 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.
For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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