Bradenton man sentenced in armed trafficking case after I-75 stop, records show
A Bradenton man will spend more than a decade in prison after troopers said they found drugs, a gun and thousands of dollars in cash during a January 2024 traffic stop on Interstate 75.
A Manatee County judge sentenced 39-year-old William Henry Caldwell IV to 13 years in prison, including a seven-year minimum mandatory term, after a jury convicted him of armed drug trafficking and firearm charges in December, according to court records. The sentence, imposed by Senior Judge Charles E. Roberts, also includes more than $100,000 in fines and court costs tied to the conviction.
The offenses carried a maximum possible sentence of life in prison under Florida law.
An attorney representing Caldwell did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
According to an arrest report, the charges stem from a Jan. 11, 2024 traffic stop on I-75 in Manatee County. Florida Highway Patrol said they stopped Caldwell’s vehicle after determining the window tint was illegally dark.
The Cadillac Escalade slowed noticeably as it passed the trooper before the stop, the report states. Investigators say the rental vehicle’s window tint was darker than allowed under Florida law.
Before pulling over, troopers said Caldwell reached toward the backseat as if trying to conceal something. When the trooper approached, they said he appeared nervous, breathing heavily, shaking and avoiding eye contact.
A K-9 unit later alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting a search, according to FHP.
During a search of the SUV, troopers said they found about 219 grams of dimethylpentylone, a synthetic stimulant similar to MDMA, along with a loaded Glock handgun with an extended magazine and $12,898 in cash bundled with rubber bands. Troopers also found multiple cell phones, which they said are commonly used in illegal drug sales.
Troopers initially believed the substance was cocaine based on a field test, but lab testing later identified it as dimethylpentylone, according to court records.
Caldwell denied knowledge of the drugs when questioned, according to the arrest report. FHP arrested him on multiple charges, including trafficking and firearm offenses.
Court records show Caldwell had a prior felony conviction for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement in 2013, which barred him from legally possessing a firearm.
Before trial, Caldwell’s attorney challenged the legality of the search and seizure of the drugs, firearm and cash, but the judge denied the motion, allowing the evidence to be presented to the jury.
Caldwell received 68 days of credit for time served and must submit a DNA sample as part of his sentence, according to court records.
Court records show Caldwell has filed an appeal, and the case remains open.
