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Ronald Thomas, Armed Drug Dealing, Jacksonville FL, 2023
Jacksonville – A repeat offender with a history of violence is off the streets after receiving a 20-year federal sentence. Ronald Bernard Thomas, Jr., 44, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard for selling methamphetamine while brandishing two pistols. The firearms used in the commission of the crime have been administratively forfeited.
Thomas, known on the streets as “Gorilla,” isn’t new to the system. In 2002, he was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting an unarmed man. He served 20 years for that crime, only being released in 2017. Barely six years out of prison, Thomas was back to his old ways, allegedly dealing fentanyl and methamphetamine from Jacksonville-area hotels starting in August 2021. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents documented multiple controlled purchases of drugs from Thomas throughout 2021 and 2022.
What set this case apart wasn’t just the drugs, but the blatant display of firepower. According to court documents, Thomas routinely displayed his firearms on the table where he weighed and packaged his narcotics for sale. This wasn’t subtle; it was a clear message. On July 28, 2022, ATF agents finally moved in, conducting a traffic stop and arresting Thomas based on a federal warrant. A loaded Glock 9mm was found in his pants pocket.
The search didn’t stop there. A second loaded pistol, along with a loaded magazine, methamphetamine, pills, and suspected heroin and fentanyl, were recovered from Thomas’s vehicle. Also seized were the tools of the trade: scales, whisks, spoons, and plastic baggies. Thomas has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest, awaiting Wednesday’s sentencing.
The case was spearheaded by the ATF, with crucial assistance from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities.
The DOJ’s renewed focus on PSN, launched in May 2021, emphasizes building trust with communities, supporting local violence prevention programs, focusing enforcement efforts strategically, and, critically, measuring results. For Thomas, the result is two decades behind bars – a harsh sentence for a man who clearly learned nothing from his first stint in prison and continued to endanger the public with drugs and guns.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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