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Report from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for North Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At 28 years old, William Blas Hernandez has been handed a 12-year prison term following his guilty plea to charges of intending to distribute methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during a drug-related offense, and firearm possession as a convicted felon. This decision was announced by John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated, “This conviction marks another triumph under Operation Take Back America. Initiated by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, the operation mobilizes the Department of Justice’s full resources to extract violent, drug-dealing felons like this defendant from our neighborhoods. Our commitment is to ensure the residents of the Northern District of Florida enjoy safe, drug-free surroundings, and we achieve this by vigorously prosecuting such cases and pursuing the harshest penalties.”
Incident Originating from a Traffic Stop
On July 5, 2025, around 10 a.m., a Gainesville Police Department officer pulled over Hernandez for speeding—54 mph in a 45 mph zone—along the 3800 block of NE 14th Street. During the stop, when questioned about the presence of illegal drugs or firearms in the car, Hernandez glanced at a gold backpack on the passenger-side floor and denied having anything unlawful in the vehicle.
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.
Prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of probation
“Methamphetamine is capable of destroying families and ripping through communities,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “We will not stop until the flow of this poison has been removed from our streets.”
“We will not allow guns and drugs to corrupt our community. We will work with our federal partners to ensure that those who choose to engage in these activities are held accountable,” said Gainesville Police Chief Moya.
The defendant’s imprisonment will be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face additional prison time.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.
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, human and drug trafficking.