A Miami Gardens resident appeared in federal court following his indictment on charges related to drug trafficking, illegal firearm possession, and firing a weapon during a crime. The charges stem from an incident on October 29, 2024, involving Lester Leon Sanders, 47.
According to court documents, Sanders reserved an Uber ride. Upon the driver’s arrival, Sanders and another man loaded three suitcases into the vehicle. The Uber driver reportedly saw a firearm magazine fall from Sanders’s clothing during this process.
After departing with the driver, Sanders asked for the car to stop. He exited the vehicle and began shouting. Concerned by what he had seen, the Uber driver left with the luggage still inside. As the driver drove away, Sanders allegedly fired his gun at least five times toward the vehicle.
The Uber driver then contacted law enforcement. Police arrested Sanders shortly after. A search of the Uber revealed a loaded large-capacity firearm magazine, nearly one kilogram of cocaine, six pounds of marijuana, additional ammunition, and drug paraphernalia including a scale and small bags. Shell casings were found near where shots were fired.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated: “This defendant shot repeatedly at an innocent man who stopped a crime as it was happening. It was through the bravery of the Uber driver that police were alerted and able stop the movement of almost a kilogram of pure cocaine from hitting the streets of Miami. The Criminal Division will pursue violent drug dealers in every city in America.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said: “There is a real and dangerous link between drug trafficking and gun violence. According to the indictment, this defendant arranged a drug deal and then fired multiple shots at a rideshare driver. That kind of alleged conduct turns a drug crime into a life-threatening situation in seconds. Federal law treats that combination seriously, with a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years if convicted.”
If convicted on all counts, Sanders faces at least 15 years in prison and could receive up to life imprisonment.
The FBI’s Miami Field Office is leading the investigation with support from Miami Gardens Police Department. The case is prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Jennifer Burns and Jinah Chang from the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
This prosecution is part of ongoing efforts under the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative targeting violent crimes in Miami through partnerships among federal agencies and local law enforcement.
Court records related to this case can be accessed at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 26-cr-20029.
An indictment is not evidence of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
