Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – William Blas Hernandez, a 28-year-old resident of Gainesville, has admitted guilt to three federal charges: (1) intending to distribute methamphetamine; (2) carrying a firearm in the course of drug trafficking; and (3) illegal possession of a firearm due to a prior felony conviction. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts of state and federal law enforcement agencies in apprehending this repeat offender. “I applaud the outstanding work by our state and federal law enforcement teams in preventing this habitual criminal from continuing to distribute lethal drugs within our community. Our office maintains a strict stance against such repeat offenders who jeopardize public safety with their blatant disregard for the law. We will persist in our rigorous prosecution of these crimes to ensure individuals like this defendant are removed from our streets,” Heekin stated.

Incident Stemming from Routine Traffic Stop

On the morning of July 5, 2025, around 10 a.m., an officer from the Gainesville Police Department stopped Hernandez for speeding—going 54 mph in a 45 mph zone—along the 3800 block of NE 14th Street. When questioned about the presence of illegal drugs or weapons in the vehicle, Hernandez glanced toward a gold backpack on the passenger side floor but claimed there was nothing illegal in the car.

The officer reported that he saw a fresh marijuana “blunt” in the driver’s side door pocket, and a probable cause search of the vehicle produced a loaded 9mm pistol in the gold backpack; the pistol had been reported lost in Orlando. The backpack also held 42 grams of pressed pills, 18.6 grams of methamphetamines, 2.1 grams of an unknown purple powder in a baggie, a digital scale, a pack of plastic baggies, and an ATM receipt for a transaction on Hernandez’s bank account.

Post Miranda, Hernandez reportedly said the backpack was not his and he didn’t know about any of its contents. When asked if his fingerprints would be found on any of the contents, he reportedly said they would not because he hadn’t touched anything inside the backpack.

Later, Hernandez reportedly said the backpack and its contents were his. He reportedly said the pressed pills were MDMA, the crystalline powder was methamphetamine, and he did not know what the purple powder was. He reportedly said he was selling illegal narcotics because of financial and family struggles.

When the officer asked where he got the gun, Hernandez reportedly said he found it on the side of the road in Interlachen. The officer asked Hernandez if he knew he was a convicted felon and was not allowed to possess firearms, and Hernandez reportedly said he was aware of those things.

Hernandez faces a sentence of 10 years to life

Hernandez now faces a minimum of ten years and up to life in federal prison. Following his release, he will be on supervised release for at least four years.  

The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2026, at 10:00 am in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief United States District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.