Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Florida Police Detective
What to Know
- Jenkins sent electronic threats targeting a Pensacola police detective involved in a homicide case.
- He faces up to 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing set for April 14, 2026.
- The investigation was a joint effort by the ATF and Pensacola Police Department.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A 19-year-old Pensacola man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to making interstate threats against a Pensacola Police Department detective, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
Tamal W. Jenkins admitted to sending electronic messages threatening the life of a detective involved in a July 2025 homicide investigation, according to a news release.
The messages were traced to a device belonging to Jenkins, law enforcement said.
Jenkins faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing, scheduled for April 14, 2026, before U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pensacola Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin emphasized the office’s commitment to protecting law enforcement. “We will continue to back up the brave men and women who keep our streets safe with aggressive prosecutions against anyone who dares to threaten their safety,” Heekin said.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a DOJ initiative targeting violent crime, transnational criminal organizations, and illegal trafficking across the United States.