A Jacksonville man labeled a “career offender” by federal authorities is heading back to prison for more than a decade after being caught selling drugs and a high-powered rifle to a confidential informant.
Senior U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Nicholas High, 38, to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence follows High’s guilty plea in June 2025 to charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to federal prosecutors, the investigation into High spanned much of 2022 and 2023. During that period, High and his associates sold ounce quantities of cocaine to a confidential source working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
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The investigation escalated when High agreed to sell the informant a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle. Under federal law, High is strictly prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to his status as a convicted felon.
Prosecutors noted that High had multiple prior convictions for drug distribution at both the state and federal levels, which qualified him for enhanced sentencing guidelines as a career offender.
The case was investigated jointly by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the ATF as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative designed to reduce gun violence through collaboration between local communities and law enforcement.
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