A federal grand jury has indicted Scott D. Oranje, 52, of Mary Ester, Florida, on charges including possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Oranje appeared for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola. A jury trial is set for March 2, 2026, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
If found guilty, Oranje could face between five and forty years in prison for the drug distribution charge. The firearms-related charge carries a minimum sentence of five years and could result in life imprisonment. The count related to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries up to fifteen years’ imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson will prosecute the case.
“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 information released about the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative that coordinates Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while aiming to reduce violent crime as well as human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 principal litigation offices directed by the Attorney General nationwide. More details about court documents can be found through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
