Fort Myers Felon Sentenced To Prison For Unlawfully Possessing A Loaded Firearm And Cocaine

Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Keith Dewayne Drayton, Jr. (27, Fort Myers) to four years and one month in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. The court also ordered Drayton to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offense. Drayton had pleaded guilty on August 29, 2023.

According to court records, on the night of June 17, 2023, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Drayton was the front-seat passenger. The vehicle did not stop, and by the time the officers caught up to the vehicle, both the driver and Drayton had fled from the vehicle on foot. On the ground near the front passenger door of the vehicle, officers found a loaded Glock handgun. Inside the vehicle, officers located a satchel which contained a prescription pill bottle bearing Drayton’s full name, as well as a baggie containing almost a half-ounce of crack cocaine. Drayton was later located by officers hiding in a nearby dumpster.  

As a convicted felon who previously served time in federal prison for a firearm offense, Drayton is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.       

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Myers Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.