Julius Maurice Dean, a 46-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Dean previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “Thanks to the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF, this violent felon has been removed from our streets. My office remains fully committed to keeping our community safe by aggressively prosecuting these criminals and ensuring they are held accountable for breaking the law.”
Court records show that Dean gave law enforcement a false name and attempted to flee on foot before being apprehended. Authorities found a loaded, stolen firearm and illegal narcotics in his possession. Dean’s criminal history includes felony convictions for bank robbery, possession of a controlled substance, driving while his license was revoked as a habitual traffic offender, and grand theft of a firearm.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative that coordinates Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and violent crime. The operation combines efforts from programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices nationwide serving under the direction of the Attorney General. More information about public court documents can be found at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
