Guns, Cash and Drugs Seized in Alachua County Bust

GAINESVILLE – Local and federal authorities seized firearms, cash and large amounts of illegal narcotics in a months-long investigation that culminated in the arrest of a convicted felon last week.

The Gainesville Alachua County Drug Task Force, made up of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, executed search warrants at a residence and several storage units tied to Donray Byrd, investigators said.

Inside, detectives recovered seven firearms, $120,700 in cash and substantial quantities of drugs. Seized items included approximately one kilogram of fentanyl, 5.5 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly three kilograms of cocaine, 1.7 kilograms of substituted cathinone (known as “Molly”), 23 pounds of cannabis, and a smaller amount of oxycodone. A cocaine press and other drug-processing equipment were also confiscated.

Authorities underscored the danger represented by the haul, noting that even small amounts of fentanyl can cause fatal overdoses. Sheriff Chad Scott said the amount of drugs seized could have destroyed countless lives in the community and vowed that his office, along with local and federal partners, will continue targeting traffickers. He added that the “peddling of deadly poison in Alachua County will not be tolerated.”

Byrd was arrested Aug. 22, 2025, and charged with 10 felony counts. The charges include trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone and phenethylamines; multiple counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and possession with intent to sell controlled substances near schools or parks. His bond was set at $1.6 million, and he remains in the Alachua County Jail.

Investigators said the bust was the result of extensive surveillance and multiple investigative techniques. They credited interagency cooperation with the success of the operation.

Officials added that the task force will continue targeting large-scale traffickers in an effort to disrupt networks that distribute narcotics throughout Alachua County and beyond.

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