Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

A Broward County resident was sentenced today to 72 months’ imprisonment after being convicted at trial of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Carlos A. 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 sentenced to 72 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleaus, after a jury convicted the defendant of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

According to evidence presented at trial and during the sentencing hearing, a deputy 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 deputies 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 deputy’s orders, Slade was handcuffed. After he was handcuffed, Slade broke away from the deputies and fled the scene on foot. Slade was eventually apprehended and deputies located, under the hat in the vehicle, a .380 caliber Beretta firearm, fully loaded with fourteen rounds of .380 caliber ammunition. Slade had a prior felony conviction and had only been out six months when he was arrested on the Federal case.

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 was 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or onhttp://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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