A former Ponte Vedra Beach realtor is set to be sentenced next month after pleading guilty in a federal case involving gun and drug trafficking, The Citizen has learned.
Braden Huston Hobbs copped to three counts in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville: conspiracy to traffic firearms, making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, along with Adderall.
In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss three other counts at sentencing.
Under the deal, the former real estate broker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 65 years.
The most serious count — the drug conspiracy charge — carries a sentencing range of five to 40 years.
Federal prosecutors say Hobbs bought at least 121 firearms between March 2022 and June 24, 2024, including at least 67 in the first half of 2024 alone.
Investigators alleged he repeatedly advertised firearms for sale, described himself as an “arms dealer,” and sold guns without a license, sometimes arranging for specific models to be obtained for buyers.
The plea agreement states Hobbs also traded firearms for drugs, including Adderall and cocaine, and sold guns to people he knew were addicts or otherwise prohibited from possessing.
Prosecutors further alleged that in April 2024 he falsely certified on an ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer of a firearm and that the weapon was not being bought for resale, even though he had already advertised it for sale.
The drug case stemmed in part from a June 26, 2024, stop involving Hobbs’ Maserati, during which officers found suspected cocaine, about 17 grams of Adderall, packaging materials and ammunition, according to the plea documents.
