Two men from Havana, Florida, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to possession of firearms and ammunition as convicted felons. Nicholas Wayne Finley, 27, faces one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Jason Dean Atkinson, 42, is charged with two counts of the same offense. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Both defendants appeared in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 11, 2025, for their arraignment in Tallahassee. Their trial is set for October 20, 2025, at 8:15 a.m., before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
If found guilty, each individual could face up to fifteen years in prison for each count.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation into the case. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain is handling the prosecution.
“An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” according to the statement.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative that coordinates Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration and organized crime groups while aiming to reduce violent crime nationwide.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates as one of 94 offices representing the nation under direction from the Attorney General. Additional information about this office can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
