Carlton Shoemaker, a 51-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on multiple charges. The charges include three counts of possessing with the intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. This was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Shoemaker appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola on July 22, 2025.
If found guilty on all charges, Shoemaker could face up to life imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton is prosecuting the case.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation and not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt during trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation utilizes resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one among 94 offices serving as principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. Public court documents can be accessed online through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.
