Miami Gardens Man Charged with Shooting at Uber Driver and Possession of Illegal Firearms and Narcotics
MIAMI, FL – A Miami Gardens man made his first appearance in federal court on Friday after a grand jury in Miami charged him with drug crimes, using and firing a gun as part of the drug crime, and illegal firearm possession by a prior felon relating to his prior felony conviction.
Lester Leon Sanders, 47, is accused of shooting repeatedly at an innocent man who stopped a crime as it was happening, said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Criminal Division. It was through the bravery of the Uber driver that police were alerted and able to stop the movement of almost a kilogram of pure cocaine from hitting the streets of Miami.
According to court documents, on or about Oct. 29, 2024, Sanders allegedly reserved an Uber ride share. When the driver arrived, Sanders and another man loaded three suitcases in the Uber. While this was happening, the Uber driver saw a firearm magazine fall out of Sanders’s clothing.
Sanders got into the Uber and he and the driver drove off. Shortly thereafter, Sanders ordered the driver to stop the car. Sanders got out of the vehicle and began shouting. The driver, concerned with what he had observed, drove off without Sanders but with the luggage and other belongings still in the car. Sanders shouted at the Uber driver and fired a gun approximately five times as the Uber driver sped away.
If convicted, Sanders faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating the case with assistance provided by the Miami Gardens Police Department.
Sanders made his first appearance in federal court on Friday and is currently being held without bond.
Related Federal Cases
- Adrian Leary, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Florida 2013 · Georgia
- James Otis Liptak, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography, Florida 2014 · Georgia
- Michael Alvin Carter, Gunrunning and Stolen Firearms Trafficking, Florida 2012 · New York
- Sammy Lee Underwood III, Felon in Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Florida 2014 · Puerto Rico
- Brian Robert Harling, Possession of Child Pornography, Florida 2014 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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