Alabama
Pace Man Pleads Guilty to Sign Theft of Public Lands
Pensacola, Florida – Hunter Drake Lovett, 30, of Pace, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to felony theft of government property. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
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Key points
- Hunter Drake Lovett, 30, of Pace, pleaded guilty to felony theft of government property.
- Federal agents recovered hundreds of stolen signs from his Shalimar storage unit, linked to him via GPS tracking.
- Lovett faces up to 10 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for December 22, 2026.
NewsWK — A Santa Rosa County resident now faces significant prison time after admitting to stealing federal and state property. Hunter Drake Lovett, 30, of Pace, entered a guilty plea in Federal Court. Specifically, he admitted to his role in a multi-state theft ring.
How did investigators solve the stolen national park signs Florida case?
Federal agents eventually used GPS tracking and a local storage unit search to solve the case. In August 2026, law enforcement searched Lovett’s storage unit in Shalimar, Florida. Inside, they found hundreds of signs stolen from public lands. Furthermore, GPS records from Lovett’s work vehicle placed him at the theft locations during the crimes.
These thefts occurred across five federal judicial districts. For example, Lovett stole signs from the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge and the Conecuh National Forest. He then sold the stolen items through social media, flea markets, and antique malls. Consequently, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suffered $7,326.79 in losses.
Why did the theft of government property Pensacola charge involve multiple states?
Lovett’s illicit operation also crossed state lines into Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. His guilty plea to felony theft of government property followed a joint investigation by multiple agencies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service led the probe alongside the U.S. Forest Service.
Several local and state agencies also assisted with the extensive investigation. These included the Florida Forest Service and the Eufaula Police Department in Alabama. Additionally, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement aided the federal probe.
What penalties does the Pace Florida crime news defendant face?
Currently, Lovett faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II, will sentence Lovett in Pensacola on December 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Meanwhile, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke D. Lindsay is prosecuting the case.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Related: Pace Resident Indicted: Theft of Government Property Charges Filed in Federal Court
Related: Former Postal Worker Mail Theft Guilty Plea: Alabama Man Admits to Federal Charges
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