ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Derrick Walden, 42, of St. Augustine, has been sentenced to five years and six months in federal prison for illegal firearm possession. United States District Judge Wendy D. Berger handed down the sentence after Walden pleaded guilty on August 2, 2024.
A search warrant executed at Walden’s residence on January 18, 2024, as part of a narcotics investigation, uncovered a loaded semi-automatic rifle with an extended magazine next to his nightstand. Walden admitted to purchasing the rifle “on the street.”
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Law enforcement also seized ammunition, a bullet-resistant vest, and drug paraphernalia. Walden’s extensive criminal history, which includes at least seven felony convictions, prohibits him from possessing firearms.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro prosecuted the case.
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This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a revised PSN strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on community trust, violence prevention, strategic enforcement, and measurable outcomes.
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