Two Pensacola residents are facing the possibility of life in federal prison following a grand jury indictment alleging major drug trafficking and weapons violations. U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin announced the charges today, accusing the pair of conspiring to move significant quantities of fentanyl through the Northern District of Florida.
The defendants, identified as Ke Anthony Javon Blackmon, 29, and Averee Kathryn Savage, 27, have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl.
In addition to the narcotics charges, federal prosecutors allege that both Blackmon and Savage—who are convicted felons—were illegally in possession of firearms.
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The penalties attached to these charges are severe. If convicted, both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the drug offenses. The firearm charges carry an additional maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Both defendants have already made their initial court appearances in Pensacola:
- Savage was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon, with a trial date set for January 20, 2026.
- Blackmon appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank, with his trial scheduled for March 16, 2026.
District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II will preside over both trials.
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This investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
Authorities noted that this case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide Department of Justice initiative. The operation is designed to utilize federal resources to target transnational criminal organizations and cartels, with a stated focus on combating illegal immigration, violent crime, and human and drug trafficking.
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