A traffic stop that turned into a drug bust last year, led to a 15-year prison sentence Wednesday for a Panama City man charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Anthony Allen Polly, 43, of Panama City, was also fined a combined $150,000 by Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark under Florida’s enhanced penalties for drug trafficking. He also must serve a minimum-mandatory 7 years.
Polly was one of multiple people arrested during a 3-day investigation by the Panama City Police Department. Two other defendants have pled and been sentenced to prison; two await trial.
Prosecutor Frank Sullivan said the pleas entered by three of the defendants showed the strength of the case put together by Panama City Police and its narcotics unit.
“The alertness of the officer who initiated the traffic stop helped lead to the discovery of drugs in that vehicle,” Prosecutor Frank Sullivan said. “The investigation and surveillance initiated by the city culminated two days later with a search warrant being served on this defendant and multiple arrests, with three defendants now in prison.”
Sullivan was prepared to present witnesses and evidence proving that on April 4, 2024, a woman was pulled over for a traffic violation and not wearing her seatbelt near Polly’s apartment. She behaved erratically, and K9 Rambo alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.
The driver told police she was hiding three plastic baggies in her underwear. The contents tested positive for methamphetamine, fentanyl, and Clonazepam. She told police she bought the drugs from defendant Polly.
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Police set up surveillance on the apartment and obtained a search warrant. On April 6 they saw the defendant exit his apartment and get into a truck that had parked in front for about 5 minutes.
The truck left and was pulled over for a traffic violation. K9 Rambo alerted for the presence of drugs and police found a large amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the truck.
Officers then served the search warrant on Polly’s residence and found about 78 grams of methamphetamine in 4 baggies, and nearly 17 grams of fentanyl. The defendant admitted to selling the drugs to the woman who was arrested three days earlier.
Basford thanked Panama City Police for their proactive work and quick reaction that resulted in the arrests and seizures.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.