Fentanyl trafficker found guilty, sentenced to 30 years

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Admin SA

A man found guilty Wednesday of trafficking in a large amount of fentanyl was sentenced to 30 years in prison following the verdict, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

The jury that heard the evidence and testimony presented by Prosecutor Frank Sullivan took less than an hour to return its verdict against Jamie Laiquan Frazier, 43, of Panama City.

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan in court earlier this week.

After the verdict, Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark sentenced the defendant to 30 years in prison. Under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking statutes, the defendant will have to serve a minimum-mandatory 25 years of that sentence. He was also fined $500,000.

Sullivan called three witnesses – including Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators Trevor Lee and Thomas LaRoche – to prove the defendant set up a deal to sell Fentanyl on July 26, 2023.

Evidence showed the defendant set up the deal over the phone. He then arrived at the agreed upon location in Southport at the agreed upon time. Deputies made a probable cause traffic stop on the defendant, who did not have a valid driver’s license, and found about 67 grams of Fentanyl in his clothing.

RELATED NEWS: Air Force veteran joins SAO as prosecutor

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, dealers often mix the powerful and less expensive Fentanyl with other drugs, increasing the likelihood of an overdose because potency levels vary. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. A DEA analysis has found 42 percent of the counterfeit pills tested for fentanyl contained at least 2 mg of the drug.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its proactive work in getting a large amount of the deadly drug off the streets before it could be sold.

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

SAO’s Tracy Smith appointed to Bay judgeship

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Admin SA

Tracy Smith, the State Attorney’s Office Chief Prosecutor for Gulf County, has been selected to fill an open Bay County judgeship.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Smith will fill the Bay County opening created with the recent retirement of County Judge Joe Grammer. Grammer, also a former prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office, retired after 15 years on the bench.

Gulf County Chief Prosecutor Tracy Smith

“I am very humbled and honored by this appointment,” Smith said. “I look forward to serving the citizens of Bay County as their next judge.”

Larry Basford, State Attorney for the 14th Judicial Circuit that covers Bay, Gulf, Jackson, Washington, Holmes and Calhoun counties, said it was more evidence that good work is rewarded.

“Ms. Smith’s experience as a prosecutor and as a civil litigator has prepared her to be an excellent judge,” Basford said.

Basford noted Smith is the third prosecutor in 3 years from the circuit to be appointed to a judgeship by the governor.

Circuit Court Judge Devin Collier was appointed in 2022, and Circuit Court Judge Brandon Young was appointed in 2021.

Smith was one of four candidates whose names were submitted to the governor by the Florida Bar’s Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the position.

The JNC found all 4 to be “highly qualified and more than capable to fill the position available.”

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

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

Air Force veteran now SAO prosecutor

Posted on September 3, 2024 by Admin SA

Daniel Johnson, a U.S. Air Force veteran with a combined 12 years of active and reserve duty, is the newest addition to the 14^th Judicial Circuit’s prosecution team in Bay County.

State Attorney Larry Basford said Johnson will be handling misdemeanor cases in Bay County.

Johnson believes his military experience and his year-long internship with the City of Columbus, Ohio, Prosecutor’s Office, combine to make him a good fit.

Prosecutor Daniel Johnson, left, and State Attorney Larry Basford.

“My 12 years of military service have instilled in me a sense of purpose and duty to serve the community,” Johnson said. “It also taught me the importance of upholding the law and protecting the interests of others.”

His year at the prosecutor’s office in Ohio, along with interning as a mediator for the Automotive Consumer Action Program, helped fine-tune the skills he acquired in the military.

“My legal internship provided me with valuable courtroom experience and the opportunity to work with judges, law enforcement, and court personnel,” he said. “My time as a mediator strengthened my communication and customer service skills.”

All of that, he said, gives him the knowledge and skills to serve the community.

Johnson graduated from high school in Spring Valley/Columbia, N.C., before entering Park University in Parkville, Mo., while still on active duty. From 2020-2023, while on military reserve, he attended and obtained his law degree from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.

Johnson most recently provided consultative services to legal customers at LexisNexis before relocating to Florida to prepare for the bar exam.

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

2 Life sentences for man who raped woman at gunpoint

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Admin SA

A Bay County man who robbed a couple at gunpoint and raped the female was given 2 consecutive Life sentences Wednesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced Markeal Donvelt Byrd, who turned 41 today, Life in prison for both Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Carjacking with a Firearm. Prosecutor Zachary VanDyke successfully sought to designate the defendant as a Habitual Violent Felony Offender, which led to enhanced sentences of 20 years for Robbery with a Firearm, and 10 years for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm.

Prosecutor Zachary VanDyke, top, during the trial. The defendant and his attorney, bottom left, at sentencing. VanDyke showing jurors the defendant’s weapon, bottom right.

“Two Life sentences is justice for the victims in this case, who suffered tremendously,” VanDyke said. “Both were held at gunpoint – one while being sexually battered – and both had the courage to testify against their attacker at trial. Sentences like this are the result of the collaborative efforts between our office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and the victims.”

RELATED NEWS: Jury finds Byrd guilty as charged

VanDyke called 6 witnesses at the one-day trial June 18. The jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before returning the verdicts of guilty as charged.

According to trial testimony and evidence, the male victim was in a car outside his girlfriend’s place of employment when he met the defendant and the two smoked marijuana. When the woman got off work, the defendant said he could get more marijuana for them if they would give him a ride from the beach into town.

During that drive, the defendant pulled a pistol, forced the male victim to withdraw money from ATMs, and sexually attacked the female victim. The defendant then made them drive to the Thomas Drive area. He ordered them out of the car and stole it.

Responding Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies caught the defendant at a nearby convenience store getting gas in the stolen vehicle.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the victims for their testimony, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement which provided DNA evidence corroborating the victims’ statements.

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

Life without parole for man who sexually battered child

Posted on July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 by Admin SA

A Callaway man found guilty as charged of sexually battering a child has been sentenced to Life without parole in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Mark N. Jackson, Jr., 29, was found guilty as charged Wednesday of Sexual Battery of a Person Less than 12 Years of Age, and Lewd or Lascivious Molestation. Circuit Court Judge Timothy Register sentenced the defendant to Life in prison on both counts. He ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, or one after the other. Judge Register also designated the defendant as a Sexual Predator.

The defendant during questioning and time of arrest.

“I’m very proud of the child victim and hope this finally brings closure to a long-endured nightmare,” said Major Crimes Prosecutor Peter Overstreet. “We will continue to prosecute child predators to the fullest extent of the law.”

Overstreet called 6 witnesses, including the victim who was 4 years old at the time of the crime, and presented evidence proving the defendant sexually battered the girl and molested the child. The defendant was questioned by Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators after the victim disclosed what happened to a Department of Children and Families Investigator.

During the questioning, the defendant admitted the sexual contact had taken place and he was placed under arrest.

The two-day trial ended with the jury deliberating for 90 minutes before returning its verdict.

Basford thanked Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center for their work on the case.

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

“Squatter” sentenced to 40 years in prison

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Admin SA

Prosecutor Josh James, left, listens as one of the victims speaks to Circuit Judge Dustin Stephenson at sentencing.

A man who filed fraudulent paperwork to take ownership of a beach condominium for more than 18 months was sentenced to 40 years in prison Tuesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson ordered Olandis Dean Hobbs, 37, to 25 years in prison for Fraudulent Use of Personal Identification Information, and a consecutive 15 years in prison for Grand Theft (over $100,000). The defendant also faces 30 years’ probation.

The defendant moments after his sentence was announced.

“I hope this sends a strong message,” Basford said. “Do not come to Northwest Florida and try to steal people’s identification and/or property by squatting because we will not tolerate this.”

Hobbs was found guilty as charged July 9 with the above offenses, and Unlawfully Filing a False Document, Uttering a Forgery, and Forgery. Prosecutor Josh James presented witnesses and evidence proving the defendant used fraudulent documents to have the victim’s condominium transferred to his possession.

The minimum sentence required by law was 10 years. Judge Stephenson said there are matters of “forgiveness” and matters of “justice,” and “forgiveness is not mine to give. Justice is mine to give.”

“This might be your first significant conviction, but it is a doozy,” Judge Stephenson told the defendant. “You stole rest from the sunset of someone’s life and should be punished for it.”

The condominium, valued at more than $500,000, belonged to an elderly woman and her two daughters. Both daughters spoke in court during the sentencing, saying while they believe in forgiveness, the crime called for a sentence that reflected its severity.

“Sentencing was important because we really wanted a stiff, but fair, sentence to send a message that this is not some victimless crime,” one sister said. “This was more than just squatting; he actually took ownership.”

The second sister, both live out of state, said the financial wounds from the crime will last for years, but she was happy with the guilty trial verdict and sentence.

“We counted on the justice system and it came through for us and we’re very happy with that,” she said. “We’re very grateful at how serious this was taken and the resources that went into finding him guilty and getting this sentence so he can’t do it to someone else.

“If we’re any indication, they fight for their residents.”

Basford thanked the Panama City Beach Police Department for its work on the case and the victims for their perseverance and testimony.

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

Bonifay man sentenced to 20 years in prison for child porn possession

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Admin SA

BONIFAY – A Bonifay man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for being in possession of multiple items of child pornography, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Benjamin Timothy Smith, 49, of Bonifay, was found guilty as charged June 26 of 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts Wednesday sentenced the defendant to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years’ probation. Smith also was designated a Sexual Offender.

Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Jacob Cook at an earlier trial

Defendant Benjamin Smith

The defendant was arrested in October following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Jacob Cook called three witnesses and presented evidence proving that the defendant was in possession of 10 sexually explicit images of girls who
appeared to be between 6 and 10 years of age. Some of the images depicted the victims being sexually assaulted.

The 6-person jury deliberated for 23 minutes before finding the defendant guilty as charged.

Testimony and evidence showed that the FDLE received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on May 11, 2023, about suspected upload of images of sexual
exploitation of children. The NCMEC provides services nationwide to prevent the abduction and sexual exploitation of children.

That tip led them to the defendant. Investigators executed a search warrant and recovered the images uploaded by the defendant.

Basford thanked the FDLE and the NCMEC for their successful investigation.

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

Meth trafficker guilty, sentenced to 25 years

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Admin SA

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan, bottom, shows some of the seized methamphetamine to jurors as the defendant, upper left, watches.

A jury took about an hour Tuesday to find a Panama City man guilty as charged of trafficking in a large amount of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Steven Wayne Stottlemyer, 61, was found guilty as charged of Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 200 grams), and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Sell within 1,000 feet of a school or college. Following the verdict, Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced Stottlemyer to 25 years in prison. Under Florida’s enhanced trafficking statutes, 15 years of that sentence is minimum-mandatory.

“The message is not complicated,” Prosecutor Frank Sullivan said of the verdict and sentence. “If you come here and traffic in drugs, our law enforcement agencies – in this case the Bay County Sheriff’s Office – are going to catch up with you.

“And our office is going to continue to prosecute these people and send them to prison using every statutory tool available,” he continued. “We will not tolerate people spreading this poison onto our streets.”

Sullivan called witnesses and presented evidence proving that the defendant was in possession of about 234 grams of methamphetamine at his residence and on his property March 29, 2022. Testimony showed he agreed to sell some of the drugs, which led to a search warrant being obtained by sheriff’s investigators.

The search resulted in the seizure of nearly 300 grams of methamphetamine.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case.

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

Man who failed to appear for drug trafficking trial convicted in absentia, given 30 years

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Admin SA

Quantavious Fuller, upper left, was found guilty of drug trafficking and as of July 16 was a fugitive.

A man who failed to appear for his own trial Friday for drug trafficking was found guilty as charged and sentenced to 30 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford said.

Quantavious Geraud Fuller, 44, of Panama City, was present Monday, July 8, when a jury was picked to hear his case for Trafficking In Illegal Drugs (14 grams or more), Destruction of or Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Possession of Paraphernalia. Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested him Oct. 5, 2021, and said he was in possession of more than 28 grams, but less than 30 kilos, of heroin.

But when it was time for trial and opening arguments from Prosecutor Frank Sullivan Friday, the defendant was nowhere to be found. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark ordered that the trial move forward without the defendant present. A warrant for his arrest was issued and as of Monday, July 16, the defendant was still being sought.

“Heroin is a dangerous drug that has devastated communities across the country,” Sullivan said. “Its investigations, prosecutions, and sentences like these that have helped decrease our local drug overdose rate by 65 percent over the last few years, compared to the national average of 3 percent.”

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Quantavious Fuller.

Prosecutor Frank Sullivan, shown here in an earlier trial, tried the defendant in absentia Friday.

Sullivan called two witnesses – BCSO Inv. Phillip Hill, who was the case agent, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement analyst Stephanie Spiegle. Their testimony and the evidence shown to jurors proved that on Oct. 5, 2021, deputies served a search warrant on the defendant’s Panama City residence.

The defendant was found inside. Investigators also found a toilet clogged with plastic baggie someone had attempted to flush. The baggie was recovered and found to contain a large amount of a substance that tested positive for heroin.

Testimony showed the defendant flushed the baggie after deputies knocked on the door and announced their presence.

Jurors took about 40 minutes to return guilty verdicts. The trafficking charge is a First-Degree Felony. Judge Clark ordered a 30-year sentence, with a 15-year minimum-mandatory under Florida’s enhanced trafficking statutes.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its proactive work in getting a large amount of opiates before they could be sold on the street.

Quantavious Fuller is described as a black male, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 850-747-4700 or Panhandle CrimeSTOPPERS at 850-785-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.

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

Drinkard gets Life for “vicious” beating death of 20-year-old

Posted on July 12, 2024 by Admin SA

Justin Isaac Drinkard was sentenced to Life in prison Friday for beating a young man to death with a baseball bat in 2018, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Drinkard, 38, was found guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Trespassing (while armed) on April 19 after a 4-day trial. Prosecutor Peter Overstreet presented witnesses and evidence proving the defendant repeatedly beat Jerry Dee Benefield, Jr., 20, in the head with a baseball bat after Benefield tried to defend his girlfriend.

Prosecutor Peter Overstreet addressing jurors during the trial.

The defense argued that the defendant should get a 22-year sentence followed by probation due to his drug addiction.

After hearing from the defense and Overstreet Friday, Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay agreed with Overstreet’s argument that a life sentence was the only way to protect the community.

“This was a vicious, senseless case and the defendant was on probation at the time,” Overstreet said. “He’s been placed on probation over and over for drug charges and he can’t hack it, and now while he’s on probation he commits this murder.

“So, there’s nothing more this court can do to protect this community except to sentence him to the rest of his life in prison.”

RELATED NEWS: Drinkard guilty of murder

The defendant was arrested for beating Benefield to death in his Lynn Haven home Nov. 25, 2018.

Overstreet proved to jurors that the defendant showed up unannounced at the victim’s home trying to buy methamphetamine. After using meth with the victim and his girlfriend, testimony showed he refused to leave and instead followed the girl into a bathroom and shut the door.

The girl screamed for help. The victim got the door open and became engaged in a struggle with Drinkard, who grabbed a baseball bat and beat the victim in the head, even after he lay unconscious.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for its work on the case, which occurred just a month after Hurricane Michael hit and while the county was in a state of emergency.

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