Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, along with FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey, announced the arrest of a convicted drug trafficker whose federal prison sentence was commuted by autopen in the closing days of President Joe Biden's administration while speaking at a press conference in Hollywood this week.
According to the attorney general, James Howard Dobbs, Jr., a/k/a “Red," had served only 20 months of his seven-year prison sentence before his commutation. Dobbs will now face charges under Florida law.
“Joe Biden’s autopen freed dangerous criminals and put Florida families at risk, but with FBI Director Patel’s and Deputy Director Bailey’s leadership, we are entering a new era of cooperation between federal and state law enforcement," Uthmeier said in a release. “Thanks to our strong partnership, we are correcting another egregious wrong. If you are a felon in Florida whose sentence was erased by autopen, our prosecutors make sure you face the accountability you earned.”
Dobbs had been the target by the FBI after being identified as a drug distributor in Brevard County, including for MDMA and cocaine, between March and June 2023. Federal officials later found 305.6 grams of MDMA, a loaded Taurus .40 caliber firearm, and cocaine in his bedroom after executing a search warrant as his home in June 2023.
He also admitted to owning the gun and being convicted felon, as well as the MDMA and cocaine being his and selling the substances during a post-Miranda interview to law enforcement officials.
Dobbs was charged with eight counts of trafficking 10 to 200 grams of phenethylamines, two counts of trafficking 28 grams to 200 grams of cocaine, felony possession of a firearm, and possession of cocaine.
He faces up to 320 years in prison and a seven-year minimum sentence if convicted.
"An autopen should never have more power than justice,” Bailey added. "Today, the FBI and the State of Florida are proving that violent offenders cannot evade accountability. We will pursue every lawful avenue to ensure justice is served and victims are never forgotten.”
