TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Nicholas Wayne Finley, 37, and Jason Dean Atkinson, 43, both of Havana, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the close collaboration between our local and federal law enforcement partners, these repeat offenders have been stopped from continuing to menace our streets and now face substantial prison time. My office will aggressively pursue criminals, like these men, who threaten the safety of our communities.”
Court documents reflect that federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at the two brothers’ residence on July 10, 2025. Officers found nine firearms in Finley’s bedroom along with numerous types of ammunition. Atkinson was found with a round of .45 caliber ammunition in his pocket, and a .45 caliber 1911-style firearm with obliterated manufacturer’s markings and additional ammunition was found in Atkinson’s trailer.
Finley had multiple prior felony convictions from Iowa, while Atkinson had a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking, along with two Florida convictions for possession of methamphetamine.
Both men face up to 15 years in prison.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Havana Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 22, 2025, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
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.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
