Escambia Man Pleads To Federal Drug, Weapons Charges

June 27, 2013

An Escambia County man pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to federal drug trafficking and firearms charges.

John Willie Rudolph, 39, entered the guilty plea to charges charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  Rudolph is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10 before Senior United States District Judge Lacey A. Collier.

According to court records, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office learned on April 26, 2013, that Rudolph, who had active warrants for his arrest, was at the Western Inn in Pensacola with a firearm.

Deputies  responded  to the area and observed Rudolph with a black leather bag. As  deputies approached, Rudolph  attempted to flee but was subsequently apprehended. Upon his arrest, deputies found a loaded  revolver, cocaine, a digital scale, and $1,000 in cash on Rudolph’s person and a black leather bag nearby containing a large quantity of individually packaged baggies of marijuana.

On the controlled substance offense, Rudolph faces up to thirty years of imprisonment, up to six years of supervised release, and up to a $6 million fine. For possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, he faces a mandatory five years of imprisonment up to life imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. On the possession of a firearm by a felon, Rudolph faces a mandatory  fifteen years of imprisonment up to life imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release,  and up to a $250,000 fine.

This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods”  program – a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy led by ATF.

Comments

4 Responses to “Escambia Man Pleads To Federal Drug, Weapons Charges”

  1. Juanita Harrison on November 20th, 2020 9:46 pm

    They make him out to be a bad guy. He’s not he has a child that is now 7 year’s old a son that only talk’s to him on the phone. His mom is ill and he is her only son she need’s him home. He is really a good father his family need’s him home. He has been gone 8 year’s. It’s hard taking care of a child with out his father. Not to mention his father died while he is in prison. Please release him we need him here.

  2. mick on June 27th, 2013 5:32 pm

    Well said David…

  3. No Excuses on June 27th, 2013 4:53 pm

    This guy is a good example of why you don’t want to be a guest of the Feds more than once. Those second time around sentences are rough!

  4. David Huie Green on June 27th, 2013 4:28 am

    CONSIDERING:
    “Rudolph faces up to thirty years of imprisonment, up to six years of supervised release, and up to a $6 million fine”

    Hit him with the six million dollar fine and let him go as soon as it is paid.
    Hold him until it is paid in full
    Forget the rest of the charges.
    No reason to be unreasonable

    David for cash

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News