Man with magnetic box of drugs under drug guilty of trafficking

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Admin SA

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan addresses jurors in his opening statement

Joshua A. Smith, the final defendant in a case that began with a traffic stop last year and led to five arrests on drug charges, was found guilty of trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine on Wednesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Smith, 40, of Panama City, was found guilty of Trafficking in Fentanyl (between 14 grams and 28 grams), Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Sale of Methamphetamine, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark set sentencing for Jan. 22, where the State will be seeking an enhanced penalty under the Habitual Felony Offender statute.

The defendant had previously been to prison five times, with his most recent incarceration for drug trafficking. The defendant had been released from prison less than a year prior to being arrested in this case.

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan, with co-Prosecutor Jackson White and Circuit Judge Brantley Clark observing

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan called four witnesses, including two Panama City Police Department officers, and presented evidence that the defendant sold $150 worth of methamphetamine – about 14 grams – to a confidential informant on April 7, 2024. A short time after the monitored transaction was complete, Panama City police performed a probable cause stop of the defendant.

During a search of the defendant’s truck, police found “black magnetic box” stuck to the bottom of the vehicle. It contained about 67 grams of pressed fentanyl pills, 15 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, and the cash received from the confidential information.

“Panama City police did a thorough investigation that ultimately led to several major drug dealers receiving significant prison time.” Sullivan said. “The result of this entire investigation kept hundreds of pressed fentanyl pills off the streets of our community.”

The case began April 4 when Alicia Ducker of Panama City was pulled over for a traffic violation and was found hiding fentanyl and methamphetamine in her underwear. She said she got the drugs from Anthony Polly, who lived nearby. Ducker pled to the charges against her and was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Investigators next focused on Polly’s residence and obtained a search warrant. Waiting to serve it, they saw Polly exit his apartment and get into a truck driven by Willie Goldsmith for about 5 minutes. Goldsmith was stopped for a traffic violation a short distance away and about 60 grams of fentanyl were found inside. Goldsmith pled to the charges against him and received a 20-year sentence.

Investigators then served the search warrant on Polly’s apartment and found about 78 grams of meth and 17 grams of fentanyl. Polly pled to his charges and received 15 years in prison. A second person in the residence, Andy Lee Rhodes, also pled and received a 2-year sentence.

Polly told police Smith sold him 20 of the fentanyl pills. Police then set up the April 7 methamphetamine buy from Smith that led to his arrest.

Basford thanked Panama City police for both their proactive work and ensuing investigation that led to multiple arrests and now convictions.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

15-year sentence for man who molested minor after they used cocaine

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Admin SA

A 49-year-old man found guilty of having sex with a minor after they used cocaine was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday and designated a Sex Offender, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

John C. Bradly, 49, who was living in Panama City at the time of the Jan. 13 offense, was found guilty Oct. 23 of Lewd and Lascivious Battery by a jury that deliberated for about 20 minutes. Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay presided over the trial and handed down the sentence.

At trial, Prosecutor Zach VanDyke called two witnesses – the victim, and Bay County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jake Roberts. He also introduced numerous text messages between the defendant and the victim, and the defendant’s statement to Roberts where he admitted having sex with the girl.

“This is a defendant who not only refused to take responsibility for his actions, but who repeatedly lied and denied, and then attempted to put blame on the victim,” VanDyke said after the trial. “He tried to make her a victim again with his testimony, and I’m grateful the jurors saw through that. His behavior is sending him where he belongs – prison.”

The victim testified that the defendant went to high school with one of her relatives and it was through that connection that she met him. She said he picked her up at her residence Jan. 13, drove her around, and they stopped and used cocaine twice. She said after the second time, he initiated sex with her.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its follow up work that led to Bradly’s arrest.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Woman who fought officer sentenced to 48 months

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Admin SA

A woman accused of threatening her mother with a knife and fighting a police officer attempting to detain her afterward was sentenced to 48 months in prison Monday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Emma Susana Bustos, 25, of Panama City Beach, was found guilty Nov. 12 of Resisting an Officer With Violence and Assault. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson Monday sentenced the defendant to 48 months in prison. He also ordered her to undergo mental health treatment during her incarceration, and additional evaluation and treatment upon her release.

Prosecutor Christopher Walters called two witnesses to prove his case – the defendant’s mother who initially called Panama City Beach Police, and Beach Officer Mason Lawley who responded to the call.

“No officer should ever be attacked while doing their job and protecting our community.” Walters said. “Anyone who threatens or commits violence towards law enforcement will be prosecuted. This office stands with our partners in law enforcement.”

The testimony and evidence showed the defendant threatened her mom on May 23, 2025. The victim, fearing the defendant might use a knife, fled to her bedroom and locked the door. The defendant began yelling threats and banging on the door with an object. Police later found knife puncture marks on the outside of the door.

When Officer Lawley arrived and was given permission to enter the home, he spotted Bustos and attempted to question her. Bodycam footage showed Bustos became increasingly agitated which included poking Officer Lawley in the chest and making verbal threats.

Despite being warned that she could not leave, she attempted to run away from Officer Lawley. During Officer Lawley’s attempts to detain the defendant, she kicked him, scratched him, attempted to bite him, and grabbed a piece of broken ceramic which threatened the Officer’s safety. Officer Lawley suffered various scrapes and minor cuts before he could handcuff Bustos.

Basford thanked the Panama City Beach Police Department for its work on the case.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Major meth dealer guilty, sentenced to 30 years

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Admin SA

Prosecutor Brea Dearing, left, with the drugs recovered with the arrest.

A Panama City Beach man found with hundreds of grams of methamphetamine after he fled on foot during a traffic stop was found guilty as charged Friday and sentenced to 30 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Roderick Rodriquez Wright, 52, was found guilty of Trafficking Amphetamines (more than 200 grams) and Resisting and Officer Without Violence after only 25 minutes of deliberation by a jury Friday. Prosecutor Brea Dearing needed only two witnesses – Bay County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Lance Woodworth and Florida Department of Law Enforcement analyst Jessica Bosseler to prove her case.

Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced the defendant to 30 years for the first-degree felony. The first 15 years of that is minimum-mandatory under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking statutes. Judge Gay also levied a $250,000 fine.

“The defendant was carrying a very large amount of methamphetamine that never made it to our community’s streets thanks to Deputy Woodworth’s active patrol,” Dearing said. “The nearly 1 pound of meth the defendant tried to escape with will be destroyed. But none of our residents will be destroyed by his drugs as he serves this lengthy sentence where he belongs – in prison.”

Dearing had both the testimony of Deputy Woodworth and the defendant’s own words, captured on the deputy’s bodycam following a foot chase.

On April 16, Deputy Woodworth paced a Nissan Altima at 80 mph in a 65-mph zone in northern Bay County. He attempted to stop the vehicle, but a “low speed pursuit” began. Woodworth said the defendant, a passenger in the car, suddenly jumped out of it with a black Nike backpack and fled.

He was captured a short distance away, the backpack nearby. Inside the backpack deputies found four breast milk bags holding seven separate baggies of methamphetamine weighing close to a pound.

The defendant claimed he did not know what was in the backpack. He said he was from Georgia. The car was rented out of state. Dearing said the drugs’ packaging was indicative of a drug trafficking operation.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its proactive patrol work that led to the arrest.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Man who recorded women changing in gym dressing room sentenced to prison

Posted on November 21, 2025November 21, 2025 by Admin SA

John Robert Burchett, 31, formerly of Panama City, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for production and transportation of obscene material for distribution, according to an announcement by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful federal prosecution is the result of close collaboration with our state law enforcement partners, and ensures this defendant will be held fully accountable for his criminal exploitation of vulnerable victims. I appreciate the outstanding work of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the 14^th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, and our federal law enforcement partners in helping to bring this offender to justice.”

Court documents reflect that in February 2024, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office received information that the defendant had used his cell phone to surreptitiously record women while they were changing their clothes in a private dressing room at a Panama City gym. Between September 2023 and January 2024, the defendant shared thirteen different videos to a public website where they were viewed thousands of times.

Initially, the defendant was arrested by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and state charges followed. Following collaboration with the State Attorney’s Office for the 14th Judicial Circuit, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office sought a federal indictment.

“This was a deliberate and predatory invasion of the victims’ privacy, and it won’t be tolerated in Bay County,” said Sheriff Tommy Ford, Bay County Sheriff’s Office. “Investigators worked tirelessly to uncover the full scope of the defendant’s actions, and I’m grateful for the outstanding teamwork with our state and federal partners in holding the defendant accountable.”

State Attorney Larry Basford stated, “The defendant violated the privacy of these innocent female victims and has been held accountable. By working with the U.S. Attorney, we were able to get a longer sentence for this defendant than was possible in state court for these crimes. I thank the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their role in pursuing justice for these victims.”

The defendant’s imprisonment will be followed by two years of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration. Additionally, the defendant was ordered to pay restitution.

The case was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordane New and Meredith L. Steer.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

10 years prison, $183,000 in restitution ordered for baseball card thief

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Admin SA

A Louisiana man who was part of a burglary crew that stole more than $100,000 in collectible baseball cards from a Panama City business in 2023 was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to make $183,000 in restitution Monday.

State Attorney Larry Basford said Leon Rowe Jr., 31, of Louisiana, is the first of the four defendants to go to trial in any of the cases. A second defendant here pled to his charges and testified against Rowe. Rowe was found guilty on Sept. 19 of Grand Theft (more than $100,000) and sentenced Monday by Senior Judge Joe Grammer.

A third defendant is awaiting trial and the fourth has not been captured.

Prosecutor Zachary VanDyke said Rowe and was part of a burglary and theft spree involving gaming and collectible stores that stretched from Panama City west to Louisiana in late 2022 and early 2023. The three defendants in the Panama City case are from the same area of Louisiana.

“In 2 minutes, they destroyed a business that a man spent decades building,” VanDyke said. “We are glad the perpetrator has been held accountable and that restitution has been ordered. But we understand nothing can replace what this victim lost.”

In the Panama City case, the defendants took hundreds of collector’s cards ranging from a 1955 Sandy Koufax ($4,500) to a 1954 Hank Aaron ($4,000). The collection included 65 Mickey Mantles, 34 Hank Aarons, 11 Whitey Fords, and cards from Tom Seaver, Roger Maris, Nolan Ryan, and Johnny Bench.

In the Panama City case, surveillance video showed a man swinging a large hammer at the glass entrance door and kicking a hole in it. Four men wearing gloves and with their faces covered rushed through the hole, with at least two grabbing collectible bats to smash the glass cases inside.

Following that, there was a string of similar thefts across the Gulf Coast. DNA found at one crime scene in Alabama was matched to Rowe and Cedric Vondo, 37, also of Louisiana. Vondo gave a statement incriminating himself, Rowe, and another co-defendant.

Basford thanked the law enforcement network across the Gulf Coast that collaborated in connecting the cases, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its work on a similar case that assisted the Panama City Police Department’s case.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Georgia man who sexually assaulted teen in 2004 sentenced to 15 years

Posted on November 14, 2025November 14, 2025 by Admin SA

A Georgia man who sexually assaulted a young teen here in 2004 was sentenced to 15 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty rather than going to trial, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Leslie Earl Cannon, 73, entered an open plea to Sexual Battery Upon a Child older than 12 but younger than 18, and Lewd or Lascivious Battery. An open plea means there is no agreement on the sentence, it is decided by the judge. Cannon was designated a Sexual Predator and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Circuit Court Judge Timothy Register said he considered that the defendant has been in prison for the last 20 years for a similar assault on the victim that took place in Georgia around the same time as the offense in Florida, testimony from the victim who is now in his 30s, as well as the sentencing guidelines.

“Your honor, what the victim and what we really want here is that this man not be turned loose so that he can victimize another child,” Prosecutor Jeff Moore said during sentencing.

The defendant was in a position of trust with the victim, who was 13 years old when the Bay County assault occurred.

With the victim, now in his 30s, standing by his side in court, Moore read the victim’s statement to the judge.

The victim wrote that his “childhood was ripped from me.”

“I spent the best years of my life hiding from people alone in the darkness, scared and afraid of society,” he said in his statement. “Scared that the next person around me will betray me. So emotionally ruined that a 13-year-old would shut himself out from the world.”

The victim wrote that the defendant began grooming him when he was 10 years old.

“This crime continues to affect me every day,” he wrote. “I am working to heal, but the harm that was done will always be a part of my story. This man hasn’t changed; this man deserves to die in prison.”

Basford thanked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for its work on the case over the years and for its collaboration with Georgia authorities.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Man guilty of Aggravated Battery for shooting man he met online

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Admin SA

An Alabama man who unsuccessfully claimed he was expecting to meet a woman he found on a social media app was found guilty Wednesday of shooting the man who showed up at his hotel, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Marques Isaiah Player, of Sylacuaga, Ala., was found guilty of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm (great bodily injury). Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark set sentencing for Dec. 18.

“This case presents a cautionary tale about meeting and ‘hooking up’ with random strangers you meet on dating apps,” Prosecutor Frank Sullivan said. “Not everyone on the internet is who they claim to be, and that can be dangerous for both parties.”

Part of Player’s defense was that he thought he was messaging with a woman on social media apps in the hours before the May 1, 2022 shooting. They agreed to meet at the defendant’s beach motel room. The defendant said it was only when he got in the truck that he realized it was a man, and he fired a shot out of fear when he saw an empty gun holster in the truck.

But Prosecutor Frank Sullivan, who called 5 witnesses, entered evidence gathered by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office that proved the defendant knew the victim was a man before the meeting took place.

“At some point in time this defendant realizes he’s not talking to a female, he’s talking to another male,” Sullivan said. “And they continued to converse on Snapchat and Mr. Player ultimately agreed to meet up with the victim.”

Snapchat messages recovered by Sheriff’s Office investigators showed the defendant sent one message to the victim stating, “If u a dude imma kill u.” Another from the defendant, sent before the two met, said, “should’ve told me Ian (I ain’t) gay.” The victim testified he told the defendant in the messages he was a man.

Surveillance video showed that the victim pulled into the hotel parking lot and sat there for several minutes. The defendant is seen leaving his hotel room, pulling a gun from his pants pocket, racking a round into the chamber and then putting the gun back in his pocket before eventually walking over to the victim’s vehicle.

The defendant is seen opening the passenger door of the victim’s truck but only remaining for seconds before shooting the victim and running away on foot. The victim was able to call 911 for assistance while the defendant and a friend fled in the friend’s Jeep. The Sheriff’s Office’s BAYROC monitoring system was used to show it crossed the Hathaway Bridge headed into Panama City minutes after the shooting. At 4:02 a.m. the vehicle, and the suspects, were found and taken into custody at a gas station near 23^rd Street and U.S. 231. The gun used in the shooting was in the vehicle.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case and the quick arrest.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Life without parole for man who sexually abused young girl

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Admin SA

A man found guilty of 4 sex offenses involving a young girl that took place last year was sentenced to Life in prison without the possibility of parole Wednesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

James Edward Mixon, 43, of Youngstown, was found guilty Sept. 26 of 2 counts of Sexual Battery and 2 counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation by a jury that deliberated for 90 minutes. Circuit Court Judge Dedee Costello gave Mixon Life for each of the Sexual Battery charges, and 15 years on each of the Lewd and Lascivious Molestation charges, with all four running concurrent.

Prosecutor Morgan Morrell thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and Inv. Dakota Merrit in particular, saying the sentence will make Bay County a safer place to live.

“This is somebody who is a sexual deviant and he stole the innocence from 2 young girls,” Morrell said. “And if he was given the chance to be out on the streets, he would do this again.

“With this sentence from Judge Costello, he will not be given the opportunity to hurt another little girl.”

Morrell also praised the victim in this case and another young girl who is the victim in a second case. That victim was allowed to testify at this trial about what happened to her.

“Both of these young girls suffered a lot of trauma because of this defendant, and with each of them knowing they were not alone, I think it boosted their confidence to be able to get up there and testify and be able to stand up for themselves,” Morrell said. “It was very difficult for them to testify, but without their courage it would have made this a more difficult case.”

The victim in this case was adopted by an out-of-state family member.

In all, three people have now been convicted and sentenced to prison in this case. Jonathan Allen Mixon, 39, of Youngstown, pled to Lewd or Lascivious Molestation and several other charges and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He testified against James Mixon. Amber Gunder, 39, pled to several charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The victim said the defendant sexually abused her twice in incidents involving the co-defendants.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center for their work and collaboration in investigating and putting together a case that put three abusers in prison.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Hornsby sentenced to 10 years for Thunder Beach motorcyclist’s death

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Admin SA

Circuit Chief Prosecutor Mark Graham, far right, looks on during sentencing.

Tammi Hornsby is fingerprinted after being sentenced Tuesday.

A Georgia woman convicted of Vehicular Homicide in August was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday for hitting and killing a motorcyclist in 2022, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Tammi Michelle Hornsby, 50, of Senoia, Ga., was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay after the judge heard from family members of the victim and the defendant. Gay also revoked Hornsby’s driver’s license for life and gave her 5 years’ probation following prison. The wreck occurred late Saturday night, April 30, 2022 during Thunder Beach.

“My son’s death has left a hole in my heart that can never be filled,” the victim’s mother said in a statement Circuit Chief Prosecutor Mark Graham read at sentencing. “The memory of that night we lost him is burned into my mind forever. No parent should have to experience this.”

She said her life, and her family’s will never be the same. “This is a life sentence for us.”

At trial in August, Graham and Prosecutor Jack Lyons called witnesses and presented evidence, including video surveillance from nearby businesses, proving Hornsby had been drinking and was driving about 29 mph over the 35 mph speed limit when she hit the motorcyclist in the westbound lane of Thomas Drive.

The victim was attempting to turn left from Silver Sands Road when he was struck, causing the vehicles to erupt in flames.

Graham said the combination of Hornsby’s speed and delayed reactions from drinking led to the crash, which he said was a tragedy for all involved. Hornsby, 50, “really had no substantive criminal record, but she came down here on bike week, and she was drinking … and speeding and her decision making was clearly flawed,” Graham said.

Graham noted crash data showed the defendant did not hit the brakes until .8 seconds before impact.

“But for her slowed reaction due to some of the alcohol she drank and if she had been driving the speed limit, she and the victim never would’ve collided,” Graham said.

Basford thanked the Florida Highway Patrol for its work on the case.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.