United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Joshua Earrey (44, Jacksonville) has been charged by criminal complaint with being an illegal user of narcotics while possessing firearms. If convicted, Earrey faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

According to the criminal complaint, Earrey unlawfully used a controlled substance and possessed a firearm from between at least as early as November 7, 2022, through December 5, 2022. He has been employed as a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper for approximately 22 years and was assigned as a Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) since June 2020.

A complaint is merely a charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from United States Customs and Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Hamilton.

The United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and United States Customs and Border Protection thank the Florida Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their cooperation during this investigation.

Original source can be found here.