PENSACOLA, FL – Jarrel Daniel Rivaz, a 35-year-old from Panama City, has been found guilty by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and marijuana, as well as possession of firearms and ammunition in furtherance of drug trafficking. The verdict was announced on July 22, 2025, by John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Rivaz, who also goes by the name “Gerald Walker,” had previously been convicted of a felony drug trafficking offense in New York. During a search warrant at his residence on December 21, 2023, authorities uncovered over 900 grams of cocaine, a substantial amount of marijuana, and two firearms with ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the collaborative efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement in this case, expressing gratitude for the work of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF in removing Rivaz from the streets. Sentencing is set for October 16, 2025, before Judge T. Kent Wetherell II, with Rivaz facing a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment up to life.
This conviction stems from Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The case was jointly investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and ATF, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ward Narramore and Alicia Forbes.
The Northern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office is one of 94 principal litigator offices under the direction of the Attorney General. For more information on this case or the office, visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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