Jesse Lee McKenzie, a 43-year-old resident of Jacksonville, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison for threatening to retaliate against a witness in a federal case, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe on Mar. 6.
The sentencing follows McKenzie’s guilty plea entered on October 28, 2025. The case highlights the risks faced by witnesses involved in federal investigations and underscores the legal consequences of attempting to intimidate or threaten individuals cooperating with law enforcement.
Court documents show that after an associate of McKenzie was indicted for distributing methamphetamine, McKenzie posted on his Facebook page in July 2025 identifying a witness by name and photograph. In the post, he called the individual a “snitch” and threatened physical harm, stating he would “wire that snitch box up” as retaliation for the witness’s involvement in the drug trafficking case. He also offered a “tip” in exchange for information about the witness’s location.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation into McKenzie’s actions, and Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to use Department of Justice resources to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The initiative brings together efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The sentence serves as a reminder of the serious penalties associated with threatening witnesses in federal cases.
