Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

A Broward County resident was convicted today by a jury in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Carlos Canino, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), made the announcement.    
                               
Derek Danard Slade, 25, of Hollywood, was convicted, following a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas, of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Slade faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison for the crime of conviction.  Slade is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Dimitrouleas on May 20, 2016, at 1:45 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale.
 
According to evidence presented at trial, a law enforcement officer with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office observed a “hand-to-hand” narcotics transaction take place in a vehicle in the area of Dania Beach.  In addition to Slade, the vehicle had three other occupants.  After being stopped by law enforcement, Slade refused to show his hands to the officers and kept them hidden under a hat.  The other occupants of the vehicle complied with law enforcement’s directives.  Once he finally complied with the officers’ orders, Slade was handcuffed.  After he was handcuffed, Slade broke away from the officers and fled the scene on foot.   Slade was eventually apprehended and officers’ located, under the hat in the vehicle, a .380 caliber Beretta firearm, fully loaded with fourteen rounds of .380 caliber ammunition.  
 
This case is, in large part, the result of the Violence Reduction Partnership, launched by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  Through this Partnership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal and local law enforcement allies have sought to dismantle the most violent criminal networks in various neighborhoods, while simultaneously working with community leaders and concerned citizens to mentor at-risk youths, provide jobs and job training to young families, and help probationers and parolees successfully re-enter society.
 
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ATF and BSO.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosa Rodriguez-Mera and Randy Katz.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.