TALLAHASSEE MAN SENTENCED FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Norman John Horner, II, 43, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to serve one year in prison followed by three years of supervised release for making a false statement to a federal agency. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentencing. 

United States Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant tried to evade accountability by lying to a federal officer. Lying to federal law enforcement isn’t just wrong, it’s a crime. I appreciate the excellent investigative work by our law enforcement partners to ensure this defendant is held accountable for his criminal activity.”

On July 13, 2024, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Officer attempted to issue the defendant a citation. The defendant falsely identified himself to the officer using the name and date of birth of someone else, therefore a citation and summons were issued in the wrong name. On September 6, 2024, the person who received the citation appeared at the Tallahassee Federal Courthouse to contest the citation. A law enforcement investigation revealed that the defendant had falsely provided the incorrect name and date of birth to avoid the citation.

The case involved an investigation by the USDA Forest Service. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.