Qwinntavus Kwame Jordan, a 32-year-old convicted felon, is currently facing multiple felony charges stemming from a series of violent incidents across Florida and Georgia. His legal troubles began in April 2023, when he allegedly committed an armed robbery at a Shell gas station in Palm Coast, Florida. During this incident, Jordan demanded money from the store clerk while gesturing toward his waistband, implying that he had a firearm. The clerk complied, handing over $90 in cash, while Jordan also stole two bottles of Gatorade, 15 cigars, a bag of Hot Flaming Cheetos, and a full tank of premium gasoline worth $44. Before leaving, he escalated the situation by demanding the clerk’s car keys, but the clerk refused. Jordan then fled the scene in his own vehicle.
Law enforcement officers quickly responded, using license plate readers to track Jordan’s car northbound on Interstate 95 (I-95). A high-speed pursuit ensued, involving multiple law enforcement agencies across several counties. As the chase intensified, Jordan fired at least one shot, striking a civilian’s vehicle occupied by a woman driving in the middle lane. The round left a bullet hole on the driver’s side, but the woman was unharmed. The pursuit continued through St. Johns County, Duval County, and into Nassau County, where local law enforcement declined to engage further. However, once Jordan crossed into Georgia, police in Kingsland attempted to stop him using spike strips, successfully puncturing one of his vehicle’s tires. Despite this, he continued to drive until the car was eventually found abandoned in a ditch.
Shortly after, a second armed robbery was reported at a Friendly Express convenience store near the location where Jordan’s vehicle was abandoned. Surveillance footage confirmed that Jordan was the perpetrator. This time, he allegedly brandished a Ruger LCP handgun, demanding the clerk’s car keys. After the clerk complied, Jordan attempted to flee but reversed the stolen vehicle into the front entrance of the store, causing significant damage. He then chased the store clerk to the back of the store, where the clerk, now armed, opened fire on Jordan, striking him 8-9 times before he was subdued and arrested.
Criminal Charges and Legal Proceedings
Following his arrest, Jordan faced multiple felony charges in both Florida and Georgia:
In Georgia, he was charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
In Florida, he was charged with robbery with a firearm (a first-degree felony punishable by life in prison).
Jordan was initially held in Duval County jail before being transferred back to Flagler County in February 2024 to face prosecution. Judge Melissa Distler ordered that he be held without bond, and he was appointed Assistant Public Defender Bill Bookhammer as his legal representative.
Competency Determination and Commitment to a Psychiatric Facility
Before Jordan’s case could proceed to trial, in June 2024, a Florida state court judge declared him incompetent to stand trial, citing mental health concerns. As a result, he was committed to the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and transferred to the North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center, a psychiatric facility, where he has remained for treatment while his case remains pending.
Sovereign Citizen Claims
While detained at the treatment center, Jordan filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in federal court on November 5, 2024, arguing that his detention was unlawful. His petition contained several sovereign citizen-like arguments, including:
Alleging that the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office unlawfully restrained him without consent.
Claiming that the prosecutor and trial judge misrepresented him as a “legal fiction” rather than a living man.
Asserting that the court was improperly using “foreign statutory law” against him based on false claims.
Accusing the trial judge of issuing a judgment against a fictitious entity, rather than a real person, thereby unlawfully imprisoning him through fraudulent legal practices.
As relief, Jordan demanded his immediate release and requested monetary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.
Federal Court Ruling and Dismissal
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, presided over by Judge Marcia Morales Howard, dismissed Jordan’s petition on January 30, 2025, ruling that:
Federal courts cannot interfere in ongoing state criminal cases due to the Younger abstention doctrine, which prohibits federal intervention in pending state proceedings unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Jordan failed to demonstrate any of the three exceptions to the abstention doctrine:
That the state proceedings were motivated by bad faith.
That he would suffer irreparable injury if his case continued in state court.
That he lacked an adequate forum to raise constitutional claims.
Additionally, the court ruled that monetary damages are not available in a habeas corpus action, citing Preiser v. Rodriguez (1973).
Conclusion
Jordan remains in state custody at a psychiatric facility while awaiting further legal proceedings. His criminal case in Florida is still pending, and if convicted, he faces a potential life sentence. Meanwhile, he is also facing serious felony charges in Georgia related to the second armed robbery. His federal habeas petition was dismissed without prejudice, meaning he could file again, but unless his competency improves, his case is unlikely to move forward toward trial in the near future.
Case Citation: Jordan v. Flagler Cnty. Sheriff’s Off., 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17293 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 30, 2025).