15-minute verdict on Meth Trafficking charge; woman faces up to 30 years

A woman who admitted possessing and selling Methamphetamine after a search warrant was served on her home was found guilty as charged Tuesday and faces up to 30 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Jacqueline Michelle Long, 48, of Panama City was found guilty of Trafficking in Methamphetamine (28 grams or more) and Possession of Paraphernalia after jurors deliberated for about 15 minutes. Circuit Court Judge Devin Collier set sentencing for May 1. The offense is a first-degree felony punishable by a minimum/mandatory 7 years and up to 30 years in prison.

Prosecutor Josh James shows the defendant and her attorney evidence before presenting it to a witness.
Prosecutor Josh James and BCSO Inv. Doug Cummings examine evidence as Circuit Judge Devin Collier observes.

Prosecutor Josh James presented witnesses and evidence proving that deputies found about 34 grams of Methamphetamine in the defendant’s home when they served a search warrant May 7, 2021.

“Thanks to the hard work and diligent investigation of Bay County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Doug Cummings and Sgt. Jeremy Head, a confessed narcotics dealer will now be held accountable for her actions,” James said. “Methamphetamine is a particularly dangerous drug, and because it is highly addictive and cheap, its prevalence has been a plague in Bay County.

“We appreciate the jury’s verdict because it sends a message to the drug traffickers and dealers endangering our residents that their actions will not be tolerated and they will answer for their crimes.”

The defendant testified that the drugs recovered in her home were not hers.

Testimony showed a Sheriff’s Office investigation generated enough evidence for them to obtain a search warrant, which they served on May 7, 2021. The defendant and a male co-defendant were present.

Investigators found two baggies of Methamphetamine totaling about 34 grams, hundreds of smaller baggies for distributing the drug, cash, and digital scales.

In Head’s bodycam footage, the defendant states the drugs are hers and. “there ain’t no more to find, you found it all.” She further explains that although she had originally bought a larger quantity, some of it had already been sold.

 

Basford thanked the BCSO investigators for the thoroughness of their case and the strong evidence they gathered.

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

The co-defendant looks at the defendant near the end of his testimony for the defense.