Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dekwan Howard, 24, has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison after entering a plea of nolo contendere to 15 felony charges related to racketeering, armed robberies, shooting into occupied buildings, and illegally carrying a concealed firearm.

Howard was originally arrested with Dennis Singleton, 26, and Antonio Bowers, 22, in late December 2021 in connection with a shooting at Point West Apartments. Howard posted $25,000 bond and was released but was arrested again on March 29, 2022 after his DNA was tied to a series of home invasion robberies in November and December 2021. Several cases were consolidated as investigators gathered evidence, and Howard entered a plea of nolo contendere on March 25, 2024, to racketeering, five counts of robbery with a firearm, five counts of conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm, conspiracy to commit burglary while armed with a dangerous weapon, shooting into a dwelling, conspiracy to shoot into a dwelling, and illegally carrying a concealed firearm.

Judge David Kreider adjudicated Howard guilty of all the charges and sentenced him to 30 years in state prison with credit for 728 days served. Nine of the charges carry 30-year sentences and the rest carry shorter sentences, but all run concurrent with the first 30-year sentence; two of the sentences are consecutive minimum/mandatory 10-year sentences, followed by five years of probation, so he will serve at least 20 years in prison.

The prosecution team was led by Assistant State Attorney Britanee Prince and Assistant State Attorney Glen Bryan.

Singleton and Bowers will be back in court on April 9 as their cases continue to work their way through the system.