PENSACOLA, 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.
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Terrance Josiah Fasold, 32, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and more than 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our brave state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines every day fighting to keep our communities safe from violent, drug dealing criminals, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with successful prosecutions like this one to keep dangerous felons off our streets. Operation Take Back America is a promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will deploy the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the scourge of deadly drugs and criminal violence.”
According to court records, deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were investigating vehicle burglaries involving stolen firearms. On October 29, 2024, deputies attempted to make contact with the defendant in a Penscaola hotel parking lot. The defendant fled on foot and discarded a bag containing a large amount of fentanyl under a parked vehicle. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s hotel room and located more fentanyl, as well as methamphetamine, cocaine, multiple firearms, and ammunition.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton.
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.
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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
