Nicholas Wayne Finley and Jason Dean Atkinson, Firearm Possession by Convicted Felon, Florida 2025

Havana, Florida, Brothers Plead Guilty to Firearm Possession by Convicted Felon

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – In a joint effort between local and federal law enforcement agencies, two Havana, Florida, brothers have been caught and charged with possessing firearms and ammunition as convicted felons.

Nicholas Wayne Finley, 37, and Jason Dean Atkinson, 43, both of Havana, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to the crime of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. This plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

According to court documents, federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at the brothers’ residence on July 10, 2025. During the search, officers found nine firearms in Finley’s bedroom along with numerous types of ammunition. Atkinson was found with a round of .45 caliber ammunition in his pocket, and a .45 caliber 1911-style firearm with obliterated manufacturer’s markings and additional ammunition was found in Atkinson’s trailer.

Finley had multiple prior felony convictions from Iowa, while Atkinson had a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking, along with two Florida convictions for possession of methamphetamine.

Both men face up to 15 years in prison for their crimes. Sentencing is scheduled for December 22, 2025, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that addresses the issues of illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations. As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night, as burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida.

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. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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