What started as a traffic stop in 2021 has ended with a 9.5-year prison sentence for a man who pled guilty as charged to Trafficking in Methamphetamine (28 grams or more), State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Christopher Thomas Greenlee, 39, of Panama City, was set for trial Dec. 12 but pled guilty the morning of jury selection. Wednesday, Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson sentenced him to 9.5 years in prison.
Under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking laws, the defendant was facing a minimum-mandatory 7 years in prison. He also was fined $100,000.
Prosecutor Nicole Reed was prepared to present testimony and evidence gathered by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement proving that the defendant was in possession of about 46 grams of Methamphetamine on Nov. 5, 2021.
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Sheriff’s deputies stopped the defendant’s vehicle on U.S. 231 on that date for speeding and having an obscured tag. Evidence and testimony would have shown there was the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The defendant also showed deputies marijuana in the ashtray.
A search of the defendant revealed a plastic baggie in his pants pocket that held two baggies with a combined 46 grams of Methamphetamine.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.