Deshawn I. Donson, a 21-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, faces federal charges for allegedly committing eighteen armed robberies at gas stations and convenience stores in Escambia County. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Donson’s arraignment is set before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola on June 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
The indictment includes charges of Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence, Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. These charges are related to incidents occurring between 2022 and 2025.
According to court documents, Donson was apprehended following an armed robbery on May 18, 2025. The arrest involved a high-speed chase ending with sheriff’s deputies using vehicle immobilization techniques to stop him.
If convicted, Donson could face life imprisonment.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Pensacola Police Department; and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Prosecutors handling the case are Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jennifer H. Callahan.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that does not constitute evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt during trial proceedings.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), which aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels along with transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators. This operation leverages resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates as one among 94 offices nationwide under the guidance of the Attorney General. Public court documents can be accessed online via the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. Further information about this office can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
