Evergreen Reporter

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Javier Velasquez, Jr., 38, of Clewiston, to 8 years and 10 months in federal prison for distribution of cocaine, being a felon in possession of firearms, illegal possession of a machine gun, and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The court also ordered Velasquez to forfeit the firearms used in committing the offenses.

According to court documents, between July 13 and September 19, 2023, Velasquez sold an undercover federal agent cocaine, multiple firearms, and a Glock switch—a device used to convert a semiautomatic weapon into a machine gun. Velasquez, a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

This case is part of 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 make 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 from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results.