James Toney, 20, of Jacksonville, has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization and participation in a drive-by shooting on Interstate 95. U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger handed down the sentence after Toney was found guilty of conspiring to distribute marijuana, committing a drive-by shooting related to a drug offense, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the sentencing.
Two other members of the group, Javon Davis (27) and Christian Guyton (23), received sentences of seven years and eight years and four months respectively for their roles in distributing marijuana.
Court documents revealed that Toney, Davis, and Guyton acted as armed distributors for a drug trafficking organization led by Nathaniel Hatcher III. The group transported bulk marijuana from Northern California to Jacksonville using commercial airlines, mail shipments, and vehicles. Once in Jacksonville, the drugs were stored at short-term rental homes before being packaged and distributed locally. Members of the organization carried firearms at these locations to protect themselves and their proceeds.
The organization also included Desmond Maxwell, a former correctional officer who assisted Hatcher with illegally purchasing firearms for the group’s activities.
On September 18, 2023, an attempted marijuana transaction arranged by Hatcher’s group failed when another party stole approximately $45,000 from them during an exchange at a gas station on Old St. Augustine Road. In response to this theft, Hatcher contacted a former police officer who illegally accessed law enforcement databases to obtain information about those involved in stealing the money.
For nearly one month after the failed transaction, Toney along with Davis, Guyton and others tracked those they believed responsible using surveillance and cyberstalking methods while discussing plans for retaliation through text messages.
On October 15, 2023, Briyhon Johnson and Toney broke into a rental car lot at Jacksonville International Airport where they stole two vehicles intended for use in retaliation against those involved in the previous robbery.
Two days later on October 17th—after attending court hearings related to separate matters—members of Hatcher’s group followed one individual associated with the earlier theft as he left Duval County courthouse accompanied by another person. The suspects used multiple vehicles including stolen cars as they trailed their target southbound on I-95 toward St. Johns County.
At approximately 11:20 am that day along I-95 Southbound, two vehicles boxed in their target’s sedan before Toney and Hatcher fired dozens of rounds from high-caliber firearms into it. Witnesses reported seeing Johnson and Toney wearing masks during the incident before fleeing with others involved.
Law enforcement responded promptly; one man sustained gunshot wounds but survived following emergency treatment while another passenger suffered injuries caused by broken glass. Investigators recovered around 25 spent shell casings from two different weapons at the scene according to ballistics reports.
Several other members connected to this operation have already received significant federal prison sentences ranging from over six years up to thirty-five years depending on their level of involvement:
– Nathaniel Hatcher III: Sentenced to 35 years
– Tavarius Blue: Sentenced to 12 years
– Yaquasia Delcarmen: Sentenced to 8 years
– Al’Donta Easterling: Sentenced to 10 years
– Darion Jerido: Sentenced to six-and-a-half years
– Briyhon Johnson: Sentenced to more than fourteen years
– Desmond Maxwell pleaded guilty regarding illegal firearm purchases; he faces up to twenty-five years.
– Jahson Hatcher pleaded guilty on conspiracy charges involving large quantities of marijuana; his penalty ranges from five up forty years pending final judgment
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including Homeland Security Investigations; Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S Postal Inspection Service; St Johns County Sheriff’s Office; Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; Clay County Sheriff’s Office; Florida Highway Patrol—with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
Accordingly: “This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).”
