A Gainesville man was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges involving possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to a Northern District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office press release sent on Thursday, Khalil Keari Barnett, 30, was sentenced to seven years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
“Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another violent, drug-peddling criminal has been removed from our streets. Operation Take Back America was launched to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward eliminating the threats to our communities posed by violent criminals like this defendant, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those offenders until our streets are safe and drug-free,” said John Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, in the release.
On Aug. 7, 2025, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies responded to a domestic violence call. Upon arrival, Barnett left out the back door of the residence and attempted to enter a rideshare vehicle before fleeing on foot. As he was fleeing, Barnett threw a bag from his person, which included 600 grams of marijuana and a black mask. A firearm and a box of ammunition were also recovered near the defendant, who was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior conviction for possession of a weapon by a delinquent…