PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Carlton Shoemaker, 51, of Pensacola, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a litany of serious drug trafficking offenses. The notorious criminal, who has been a thorn in the side of law enforcement for years, admitted to three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and being in possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced the guilty plea, praising the collaborative efforts of state and federal law enforcement partners. ‘This career criminal has been removed from our streets, and one fewer drug trafficker will be flooding our community with deadly drugs,’ said Heekin. ‘Our office is committed to taking back America from criminals like Shoemaker.’
Court documents reveal that Shoemaker had been selling methamphetamine and cocaine from a motel room in Pensacola. When police raided the scene, they found cocaine, marijuana, two firearms, ammunition, and other indicia of drug distribution. The defendant has a long rap sheet, including Burglary, Grand Theft, Possession of Cocaine, and Grand Theft of a Firearm.
Shoemaker faces life imprisonment for his crimes, a sentence that will no doubt send a strong message to those who would consider engaging in similar activities. The case was the result of a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Christopher Patterson are handling the prosecution.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2025, at 10:00 am in Pensacola. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at eliminating drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices dedicated to this fight under the direction of the Attorney General.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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