The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida provided an update on the case involving an Arcadia, Florida, man on trial for drug trafficking charges. Below is the official statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Donald Carl Woods, 42, of Arcadia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Mr. Woods pled guilty on January 27, 2026. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
According to court documents, on April 28, 2025, DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Woods near his home on an out-of-state warrant. While taking Mr. Woods into custody, deputies seized a firearm and a quantity of methamphetamine, which were found on his body. In addition to having an active warrant, Woods was also a multiple-convicted felon and could not legally possess a firearm under federal law.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort to mobilize the Department of Justice’s efforts to repel illegal immigration, achieve the complete elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Ess.
