A woman found guilty of Trafficking in Methamphetamine after bags of the drug fell from her bag during a foot pursuit was sentenced to 22 years in prison Thursday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Kizzy Gentina Patterson, 44, of Panama City, was found guilty as charged of Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 200 grams), after 26 minutes of deliberation May 3.
Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark Thursday sentenced her to 22 years in prison. Under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking statutes, the defendant will have to serve a minimum-mandatory 15 years and pay a $250,000 fine.
“This defendant made some bad choices to avoid capture when she fled deputies, drove into their vehicles and then fled on foot – all with innocent bystanders nearby,” Prosecutor Frank Sullivan said after the trial. “Florida has made some good choices with its enhanced penalties for drug traffickers.”
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At trial, three current or former Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators testified that on Jan. 9, 2020, the defendant was under surveillance after information was received that she was going to be in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine.
She fled from deputies who attempted to pull her over, colliding with at least two of their vehicles, before fleeing on foot. She stumbled crossing a ditch and bags of what turned out to be methamphetamine spilled out of her bag. The recovered drugs weighed about 420 grams.
Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case and for safely apprehending the defendant, as well as the Springfield Police Department for capturing the video.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.