Fort Walton Beach Woman Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking

A 46-year-old woman from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges stemming from a cocaine distribution conspiracy that operated in the Okaloosa County area between May 2024 and September 2025. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the case, which involves powder cocaine and crack cocaine and carries a potential prison sentence of up to 80 years.

Court records identify the defendant as Kawana D. Gamble. Prosecutors charged her with conspiring to distribute and possess cocaine with intent to distribute, as well as possessing at least 500 grams of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, law enforcement officers seized more than 660 grams of cocaine and more than 50 grams of crack cocaine during the investigation. The evidence-gathering process included controlled drug purchases, a search warrant executed at Gamble's residence, and an examination of cellphone data.

The investigation covered alleged drug trafficking activities over approximately 16 months, from May 2024 through September 2025. Authorities used the controlled purchases and other investigative methods to develop the federal case against Gamble.

Gamble is scheduled to be sentenced on December 30, according to federal prosecutors. She faces a mandatory minimum prison term of five years, while the maximum potential sentence is 80 years, depending on the applicable charges and sentencing determination.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative that coordinates federal resources against illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime. The initiative provides the broader enforcement context for the case.