Escambia Man Pleads Guilty To Multi-Million Dollar Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering Crimes
June 28, 2025
Rayvaughn L. Andrews, 41, of Pensacola, Florida, pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering offenses. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Those who think they can profit and live lavish lifestyles off drug trafficking in the Northern District of Florida are sorely mistaken, and will soon find themselves in federal prison. Fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America, my office is fully committed to working with our brave federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and aggressively pursue drug traffickers to ensure those who flood our communities with dangerous drugs are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Court documents reveal that, from 2021 until his arrest in late-2024, Andrews conspired with others to distribute large amounts of cocaine in interstate commerce. The kilogram “brick” quantities of cocaine ended up on the streets of Escambia County, Florida. Using money obtained through his drug trafficking activities, Andrews laundered the illicitly derived cash through various casinos in Mississippi and Nevada. This included approximately $10 million of cocaine sale proceeds.
Andrews faces up to life imprisonment as well as the forfeiture of approximately $40,000 in United States currency and a Chevrolet Corvette seized during his arrest.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2025, at 9:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
Blue Wahoos, Lookouts Postponed By Rain In Chattanooga
June 28, 2025
Friday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field in Chattanooga was postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 5:15 p.m. EDT/4:15 p.m. CDT.
Benjamin ‘Thomas’ Miller
June 27, 2025
Benjamin “Thomas” Miller, 5, of Cantonment, passed away June 23, 2025. He was born in Pensacola, Florida on December 27, 2019 to Sean and Jenny Miller. He was a member of Victory Assembly of God and the West Florida Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God.
He is survived by his parents, Sean and Jenny Miller; brothers, Jordan and Eli Miller; sisters, Arianna and Avianna Miller; grandparents, Bennie and Linda Miller and Randy and Jan Kent; aunts and uncles, Shannon and Kim Miller, Donnie and Shelley Rutledge, and Jacob and Ashley Kent; and numerous cousins that he adored; “HIS baby”, Cal; honorary brother, Beckham; best friend, Phoenix; and all of his friends and the wonderful staff at Pensacola HealthCare for Kids.
Pallbearers are Tyler Rutledge, Dakota Rutledge, Trenton Rutledge, and Dalton Hadley.
Visitation will be July 1 from 5-7 p.m. at Victory Assembly of God in Cantonment.
Funeral services will be July 2 at 11 a.m. at Victory Assembly of God in Cantonment.
Ellen Jane Taylor
June 27, 2025
Ellen Jane Taylor, 75, of Cantonment, passed away June 18, 2025. She was born in Pensacola, Florida on April 22, 1950 to Elmer Boyington and Mary Wozniak. She had a career in chemical and maintenance for Monsanto / Solutia.
She had a passion for caring for her grandchildren and crocheting.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer Boyington and Mary Wozniak; siblings; and numerous cousins.
She is survived by her son, Preston (Bethany) Sanders; grandchildren, Hunter Sanders, Makayln Sanders, Preston “Skye” Sanders, and Ryder Sanders.
Four More Charged With Murder, Attempted Murder In Atmore Double Shooting
June 27, 2025
Four additional suspects have been charged with the murder of Atmore teen earlier this week, and they have also been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder for a shooting incident last year.
Exavion Bradley, age 20; Kcarheem McKenzie, age 19; Timothy Sanders, age 18; and a 17-year-old juvenile, all from Atmore, have been charged with murder and attempted murder for a shooting early Tuesday morning that claimed the life of 17-year-old Gabriel Elijah Hooks of Atmore (pictured left) and injured one other person.
The shooting happened on Carver Avenue near 18th Avenue after a vehicle race, and police recovered “dozens” of spent shell casings.
Javarius Watkins, 24, and Tyler Hall, 22, were both charged with murder and attempted murder earlier this week.
According to Atmore Police, evidence recovered following the June 24 shooting directly linked Bradley, McKenzie, Sanders, and the 17 year-old juvenile to a shooting that occurred on October 31, 2024. All four have each been charged with five counts of attempted murder, two counts of discharging a firearm into an unoccupied dwelling, two counts of discharging a firearm into an unoccupied dwelling, and three counts of discharging a firearm into an unoccupied vehicle.
According to police, four houses — two of them occupied by families — were struck by gunfire, along with three parked vehicles in the October shooting.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Auditorium In The Works For Tate High School
June 27, 2025
The Escambia County School Board has taken the first steps toward a new performing arts auditorium for Tate High School.
The board approved $1.091 million for Sam Marshall Architects to design the auditorium, based on plans for a new $20 million auditorium recently approved for Escambia High School (pictured).
The $20 million EHS facility will be about 24,000 square feet and will seat about 800. The plans will be adapted to fit the location and needs for Tate High School, with the auditorium having a similar number of seats and capable of seating an entire class of students at Tate.
The anticipated construction budget for the Tate auditorium is $14.5 million and must be approved by the school board at a later date.
Construction on the EHS facility is expected to being in July with about 16 months to completion. There is no firm timetable yet for the auditorium at Tate.
Pictured: Renderings of a new auditorium recently approved for Escambia High School. A new auditorium at Tate High School will have a similar design. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Indicted For Murder Of Man Found Dead In Vehicle In Ensley
June 27, 2025
This week, an Escambia County grand jury indicted three men on charges of first degree felony murder.
Michael Polnitz, Kaleb Bonner, and Antonio Larkins were each charged and arrested.
The indictment stems from the shooting death of 20-year-old Andrew Sanders, which occurred on April 24, 2025. Sanders’ body was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound in a vehicle on Currier Place in Ensley.
Polnitz’s next court date is scheduled for July 2, while Bonner and Larkins will appear in court on September 2.
All three remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Amateur Radio Field Day Is This Weekend, Free Demonstration At Ashton Brosnaham Park
June 27, 2025
Amateur Radio’s biggest annual event is this weekend.
Local ham radio operators will gather in Escambia County this weekend for the 2024 American Radio Relay (ARRL) League Field Day.
ARRL Field Day is an opportunity for thousands of amateur radio enthusiasts throughout the U.S. and Canada to set up temporary communications stations and make contact with like-minded people. Licensed radio operators, often called “hams,” spend the weekend practicing community outreach, emergency preparedness and technical skills.
Local hams participate in providing emergency communications during hurricanes and other disasters when normal communications are disabled and during local events like triathlons, bikeathons, parades or wherever real time communications are needed.
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association will begin operations beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday and operate continuously until 4 p.m. Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham Park, 10370 Ashton Brosnaham Drive, off East 10 Mile Road.
“We are looking forward to having you join us and participate if you are interested,” Eugene Bannon (KB4HAH) said. “We will have a specific station dedicated in to getting folks on the air (Get-On-The-Air GOTA).”
“Come see how we amateur radio operators plan on operating our emergency communication equipment during any emergency that we may be called on to participate in,” he added.
The Escambia County Commission recently proclaimed June 23-30 as “Amateur Radio Week” in the county to recognize the key role amateur radio plays in our community.
Editor’s note: The Southern Amateur Radio Union will not hold a Field Day this year at Travis Nelson Park in Bratt as they have in previous years.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Todays Is The Last Day Of The Donut Strike For Manna. Here’s Where To Donate.
June 27, 2025
Area first responders will take part in the Donut Strike for Manna again this afternoon.
During the Donut Strike, first responders will be stationed at grocery stores across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties from 3 to 6 p.m. to collect food and monetary donations.
In the North Escambia area on Friday, first responders will be at:
- Winn Dixie — 1550 South Highway 29, Cantonment
- Publix — 8684 Beulah Road (Nine Mile at Beulah)
- Publix — 2180 West Nine Mile Road (Nine Mile at Pine Forest)
- Publix — 9251 University Parkway (Nine Mile at University)
Participating agencies include the Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Gulf Breeze Fire Rescue, Gulf Breeze Police Department, Midway Fire District, Pace Fire Rescue District, Pensacola Fire Department, Pensacola Police Department, and Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
For the complete list of locations across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for Friday, click here.
Pictured: Escambia County Fire Rescue firefighters collect donations during the Donut Strike for Manna at the Winn Dixie on Highway 29 in Cantonment on Thursday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton/Century Joint Fireworks Show Set For July 5
June 27, 2025
The Flomaton/Century Fireworks display will return on Saturday, July 5.
The towns split the cost of the fireworks show and alternate hosting the event. Century made a $6,500 payment to the Town of Flomaton for Pyro Shows earlier this month.
The fireworks show will be held at dark on Saturday, July 5, at Dewey J. Bondurant, Jr. Park in Flomaton—that’s the former Hurricane Park across from Flomaton High School. The day will begin about 3 p.m. with food and ice cold lemonade from Pucker Up Lemonade, The Riff Raff Mobil Restaurant, and Stephens Hotdog Wagon and More.
Vendors will be set up throughout the afternoon.
A rain date, if needed, has not been announced.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.