Cadale Lamar Carson, a 34-year-old resident of Mary Ester, Florida, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to fentanyl trafficking and illegal firearm possession. The indictment alleges that Carson conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. He is also charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Carson appeared in federal court before Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola for his arraignment. His jury trial is scheduled for March 16, 2026, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell II.
If found guilty on the first two counts, Carson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and up to life imprisonment for each count. On the third count regarding firearm possession as a felon, he could face up to fifteen years in prison.
The investigation into this case was conducted jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton will prosecute the case.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “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.”
This prosecution falls under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative created by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF coordinates efforts among various agencies to combat criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational organizations, and human smuggling operations within and outside U.S. borders.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of ninety-four offices nationwide responsible for representing the federal government in court cases under direction from the Attorney General. More information about this office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
