Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – DaMorie Lamontay Miles, 20, will serve 46 months in federal prison after being sentenced on one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count involving the receipt, possession, transfer, or production of an unregistered firearm not listed in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the federal sentence.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “This successful prosecution and sentence notches another win for the Department of Justice and continues to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche that we will devote the full might of the federal government toward delivering safe, drug-free streets for our citizens.”
Original arrest
Miles was arrested in Gainesville on September 3, 2025, on state charges accusing him of selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school and maintaining a structure for the purpose of selling drugs. Authorities said the arrest followed the execution of a search warrant at his home while he was on house arrest. He was later charged with attempted premeditated homicide, shooting into a dwelling, and conspiracy to commit murder after Gainesville Police Department officers alleged he sent two juveniles to fire shots into an occupied residence.
According to court records, Miles used text messages and social media to communicate with others about buying and selling marijuana and obtaining a machine gun conversion device, also known as an MCD. Investigators reported finding the MCD and 600 grams of marijuana during the search of his residence.
“Our goal is to make Gainesville a safer place, and that means keeping dangerous drugs and illegal firearms out of the hands of those who would use them to harm others,” said Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya.
Miles’ federal prison term will be served consecutively to a separate state sentence tied to possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of a weapon or ammunition by a Florida delinquent.
The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
