A Ponte Vedra Beach real estate agent is facing up to 95 years in prison for allegedly running guns and drugs, according to prosecutors.
Braden Hobbs, 27, has been indicted on a slew of federal charges, including conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances including cocaine.
According to an indictment, investigators zeroed in on Hobbs — who worked as a St. Johns County realtor — after tracing guns seized in drug raids back to him.
Undercover agents later bought 11 guns from two of Hobbs’ alleged co-conspirators, who identified the agent as their firearm source.
The federal sting found that Hobbs bought more than 120 guns from legal dealers in Jacksonville between March 2022 and June 2024 with the intent to resell them without a license.
Hobbs was allegedly aware that some of his buyers were narcotics dealers, prosecutors said.
“The defendant would communicate with prospective buyers and arrange to sell firearms to them,” court papers state. “The defendant sent images of firearms for sale to prospective buyers.”
Hobbs told clients that he could get “anything they want.”
Hobbs — who is not a federally licensed arms dealer — was paid in both cash and narcotics.
The federal indictment indicated that Hobbs had a severe drug addiction and was pulled over with 330 grams of cocaine, 17 grams of Adderall, and paraphernalia by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in June 2024.
Deputies approached his vehicle after receiving a report of a motorist passed out in his car.
In addition to the drugs, JSO deputies found drug sale paraphernalia, including baggies.
According to an arrest report, Hobbs told officers that he didn’t realize he had the drugs and that a “surfer guy” from Daytona had asked him to deliver a box to Jacksonville.
Hobbs is also accused of assaulting a corrections officer after his arrest.
He allegedly refused to move out of the way after officers attempted to place an inmate in his cell, court documents state.
“Once the cell door began to open, I witnessed the defendant cock back his fist and strike [the officer] in the face,” the papers read.
Hobbs is facing an assault charge in connection with that incident.
His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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One Response
Baby Face Hobbs!