Jacksonville Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced To More Than 8 Years In Federal Prison After High-Speed Chase Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Dateline: Jacksonville, Florida Date: 2 October 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced Sedrick Williams, Jr. (25, Jacksonville) to 8 years and 4 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. Williams entered a guilty plea on June 25, 2024.

According to court documents, detectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) were patrolling the area of Broadway Street and Garfield Street in Jacksonville in reference to an ongoing investigation. The detectives observed Williams driving a vehicle and committing multiple traffic violations, including running a red light. When detectives activated their emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop, Williams led JSO on a high-speed chase that continued along multiple streets. During the chase, Williams drove into oncoming traffic, forcing vehicles and pedestrians off the road. Williams made multiple turns attempting to flee before crashing in a ditch, then attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended after a short distance. Inside Williams’s vehicle, JSO detectives recovered multiple bags of narcotics, including fentanyl, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine. Additionally, detectives found a loaded 9mm handgun. Detectives learned the firearm was reported stolen from Jacksonville in 2022. At the time of the offense, Williams was a convicted felon and, therefore, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Updated October 2, 2024