July 2, 2015

Bronson Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Charges

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Jamie Vincent Ward, 38, of Bronson, Florida, pled guilty today to two charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

According to documents filed in the case, Ward was convicted in Georgia for the felony offenses of Escape, Theft by Taking, First Degree Arson, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Ward is the leader or “Grand Dragon” of the Florida-Georgia chapter (“Klavern”) of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (TAKKKK). In 2014 and 2015, Ward discussed his possession of firearms with another member of the TAKKKK. On March 2, 2015, Ward transferred a German Sports Gun .22 caliber rifle to that person, asking that it be converted to a fully automatic weapon.

Law enforcement agents served search and arrest warrants at Ward’s Bronson residence on April 2, 2015. Ward was arrested as he attempted to flee. A loaded Hi-Point nine-millimeter pistol and an assortment of ammunition were found within his residence.

Ward is scheduled for sentencing on September 23, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. in Gainesville. He faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment on each count.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, whose joint investigation led to the convictions in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Simpson.

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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. To access available 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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.