Life Without Parole for Woman Who Sold Fentanyl Used in Fatal Overdose

Posted on October 27, 2026 by Admin SA

(Left to Right: Prosecutor Frank Sullivan, the remnants of the dose of fatal fentanyl, Danielle Cooper at trial)

Danielle Cooper will spend the rest of her life in prison after being found guilty Tuesday of Death Caused by the Distribution of Fentanyl, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Cooper, 42, sold $100 worth of fentanyl at her residence to Regina Vasconcelos on Oct. 5, 2021. The victim was found dead in her home the next day, a used syringe by her side. The amount of fentanyl in her system was found to be 20-30 times higher than the fatal level.

Jurors deliberated for 23 minutes after Prosecutor Frank Sullivan’s closing argument before returning its verdict. In Florida, Death Caused by the Distribution of Fentanyl is a capital felony. Cooper was immediately sentenced to Life in prison without the possibility of parole. She was already serving a 30-year sentence after being found guilty in March 2023 of Trafficking in Fentanyl (more than 14 grams but less than 28 grams).

“This case is a textbook example of why fentanyl is so dangerous – it is a very deadly drug made in clandestine labs and neither the traffickers nor the people they sell it to have any idea how potent it is from batch to batch,” Sullivan said. “The potency of different samples within the same batch can even differ.

“This particular defendant bragged about how potent her drugs were as she continued to sell them knowing the potential dangers and consequences,” he continued. “Our law enforcement partners, like the Bay County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Investigations Division in this case, will continue to track down the source in overdose deaths and we will continue to prosecute them under Florida’s enhanced laws.”

The victim was found dead in her home Oct. 6, 2021, after she missed a dialysis appointment and the clinic contacted her sister, who had just returned to her out-of-state home after spending about a year here caring for the victim. She testified that her sister suffered health problems including the removal of her spleen and one kidney, COVID, open-heart surgery, and that her remaining kidney was failing.

The sister called the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for a welfare check and gave them permission to ender her sister’s home. They found her body inside.

Investigators developed evidence – including texts between the victim, the defendant and a witness – that the defendant agreed to sell her fentanyl Oct. 5, 2021. The witness said she drove the victim to Cooper’s residence and saw her obtain the “green” and “glassy” substance identified as fentanyl.

Investigators served a search warrant on Cooper’s residence Oct. 8, 2021, and saw her throw a bag of fentanyl from her truck. They found another baggie of fentanyl in her bra and she was subsequently charged with trafficking.

In November 2022, after a full investigation and toxicology results, Cooper was also charged with the victim’s death.

Dr. Jay Radtke, Medical Examiner for the 14^th Judicial Circuit, said while the victim suffered health problems that required prescription medications, the level of fentanyl in her system was so high that it would have killed her no matter what else was in her system.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Medical Examiner’s Office for their continued work on this case. For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Man Who Sold Fatal Dose of Fentanyl Sentenced to 30 Years

Posted on October 19, 2026 by Admin SA

A fentanyl trafficker whose customer died of an overdose minutes after the sale was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Nicholas Sterling Chagnon, 42, of Parker, pled guilty to Manslaughter, Trafficking in Fentanyl (4-14 grams), and Sale or Delivery of Fentanyl Friday. He was then sentenced to 30 years in prison, with the first 3 years being minimum-mandatory.

Prosecutor Peter Overstreet was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence proving Chagnon sold a fatal dose of fentanyl to his 34-year-old victim on July 15, 2025 at a beach business. The victim paid the defendant $60 for .5 grams of fentanyl and overdosed minutes later in the business’ restroom.

Prosecutor Peter Overstreet in an earlier court proceeding.

“Over and over again we see these traffickers selling a highly dangerous and unpredictable drug without a care in the world for the consequences,” Overstreet said. “It is not a secret to them that fentanyl is not only very potent, but that the potency of each dose can vary wildly and it’s deadly.

“The Panama City Beach Police Department knows this as well and we are grateful for the time

and effort they put into the case that helped resolve it without a trial.”

The evidence would have shown that the defendant met the victim at a beach business to sell him .5 grams of fentanyl on July 15, 2025. The victim went straight to the restroom, ingested a portion of the drug and died.

The investigation, which included surveillance video from the business and CashApp data history, helped identify the defendant as the seller. The following day, July 16, 2025, the defendant was pulled over on Front Beach Road for texting and driving in a crowded area. A PCBPD K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle and a search turned up 5.2 grams of fentanyl in four baggies.

The defendant admitted selling the fentanyl to the victim.

Basford thanked the Panama City Beach Police Department for its thorough investigation that helped lead to a successful outcome. For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

Attempt to deliver drugs, phones to inmate lands woman in prison

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Admin SA

BLOUNTSTOWN – A woman who attempted to smuggle drugs, tobacco, and cell phones into the Calhoun Correctional Institution has been sentenced to 60 months in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Djuana Kay Whitfield, 55, of Lutz, pled no contest to Trafficking in Amphetamines (more than 14 grams), Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and three counts of Introduction of Contraband into a State Correctional Facility. Circuit Court Judge Brandon Young sentenced her to 60 months in prison Sept. 23. The first three years are minimum-mandatory.

Calhoun County Chief Prosecutor Josh White was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence proving the defendant was concealing 54 grams of methamphetamine, two cell phones, and tobacco as she awaited entry into the facility to visit an inmate.

“The DOC and Office of Inspector General’s proactive intervention operation did what was intended – it stopped a large amount of contraband from entering the facility and caught the person responsible,” White said. “Operations like this, which are ongoing, show the DOC is serious about stopping the flow of contraband and holding accountable those who attempt it. This case shows the potential outcome for anyone considering this kind of behavior.”

A DOC investigator with contraband from defendant’s car.

The evidence gathered in the investigation by the Florida Department of Corrections, Office of Inspector General, showed there was a planned contraband interdiction operation at CCI on May 17, 2026.

DOC investigators and two drug-detecting K-9s planned a free-air sniff of vehicles in the staff and visitor parking areas. K-9 Csili, handled by Capt. Justin McDowell, alerted to the odor of narcotics from a silver Volkswagen Jetta. The vehicle belonged to the defendant, who was at a nearby pavilion awaiting entry into the facility.

A search of the vehicle revealed 2 grams of methamphetamine and a “cylindrical package” wrapped in black electrical tape in a suitcase in the rear of the vehicle.

DOC Det. Louis Cordova said the defendant then admitted she was concealing two more cylindrical packages “on her person.” Inside those packages, investigators found the 54 grams of methamphetamine, cell phones, and tobacco.

Basford thanked the DOC for being proactive in intercepting the contraband and its investigation that led to a successful prosecution. For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.

20-Year Prison Sentence for Fountain Meth Trafficker

Posted on October 6, 2026October 6, 2026 by Admin SA

A Fountain man was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined $100,000 Tuesday for Trafficking in 58 grams of Methamphetamine, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Armando Cavazos, 44, was found guilty Sept. 17 of Trafficking in Methamphetamine (between 28 grams and 200 grams) and Tampering with a Witness. The trafficking charge carried a minimum-mandatory 7-year prison sentence, and up to 30 years.

During sentencing, Prosecutor Christopher Walters asked for a stiff sentence and presented Bay County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jeremy Head, the case agent.

“These traffickers keep bringing in these deadly drugs with no thought of the consequences for themselves, the people they sell to, or the families of all involved,” Walters said. “He strategically used a person who was ‘easy prey’ that he could influence. I believe trafficking is a serious crime in and of itself, but when you add tampering to it, it makes it more serious.”

Cavazos was found guilty of contacting a witness from jail in an effort to place the blame on a co-defendant.

Sgt. Head told Judge Stephenson that while he would not ask for a specific sentence, he wanted the judge to know the harm that Cavazos and others like him have done to Fountain – where Head grew up. Head moved away but returned in 2010, dismayed by what he saw when he was assigned to patrol that area.

“What I found when I came back to the Fountain area actually appalled me,” he said, noting the proliferation of methamphetamine use and the decline in certain areas.

“People say drugs are a victimless crime, but unfortunately that’s not true,” he said, talking about the families of both the addicts and the dealers sent to prison. “And that wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for men like Mr. Cavazos so I think he should be held accountable.”

Judge Stephenson agreed with the positions taken by Walters and Head, telling the defendant that while his crime did not merit the maximum sentence, “it deserves a very serious sentence.”

“This is a very serious offense,” Stephenson said. “It is not just a stub of the toe. In circumstances like this it is not a victimless crime.”

Stephenson then ordered that the defendant serve a 20-year prison sentence.

Witnesses and testimony presented at the trial by Walters proved that the defendant was under surveillance for drug activity when he was pulled over for a traffic violation July 21, 2023. A probable cause search of the vehicle turned up 58 grams of methamphetamine belonging to the defendant.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office and SID for another investigation targeting a major dealer that concluded before the drugs could be sold on the street.

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

Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 22 years

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Admin SA

A man found guilty two weeks ago of Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 200 grams) was sentenced to 22 years in prison Monday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Because of the volume of methamphetamine involved, Christian Samuel Stepp, 53, of Georgia, will serve the first 15 years of that sentence as a minimum-mandatory under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking statute. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stevenson also ordered a $250,000 fine.

“This is a significant penalty for someone trying to bring a large amount of methamphetamine into our community,” lead Prosecutor Christopher Walters said. “The traffickers bringing in these extremely harmful substances will continue to find out there is a price to be paid for their choices.”

Walters again thanked the Bay County Sheriffs Office and its Special Investigations Division for its work in stopping these drugs before they could make it to the streets.

The evidence against Stepp at trial included text messages between the defendant and others, and bodycam of the search warrant being served.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Special SID team served a search warrant in a camper March 14, 2025, near Southport.

The defendant was in bedroom where the drugs were recovered.

Two of the co-defendants – the owner of the camper included – testified against the defendant.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its proactive investigative work.

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

Fountain Man Guilty of Trafficking in Meth

Posted on September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by Admin SA

A Fountain man was found guilty Thursday of Trafficking in Methamphetamine after an investigation and an “alert” from a drug-detecting K-9 led to the discovery of 58 grams of the drug he dumped in the vehicle, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Armando Cavazos, 44, is being held without bond pending his sentencing, which Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson set for Oct. 6. Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 28 grams but less than 200 grams) is a First-Degree Felony punishable by a minimum-mandatory 7 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years.

“These dealers keep bringing these deadly drugs into our community, and we will continue to take them to trial as our law enforcement partners continue to put them in jail,” Prosecutor Christopher Walters said. “The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division and Sgt. Jeremy Head did another good job of getting to this defendant before he got his drugs onto our streets.”

Walters and Prosecutor Ben Bollinger called 5 witnesses – including two co-defendants who were in the vehicle when it was stopped – proving the methamphetamine found in the truck belonged to the defendant.

According to testimony, a co-defendant said he was going to install a radio in the defendant’s vehicle in exchange for some meth. While at the defendant’s property, he had to run home for some electrical tape and gave the defendant and another man a ride so they could stop at a nearby store.

They were under surveillance by members of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office SID. When the driver failed to stop at a stop sign, they were pulled over. Inv. Dwight Cummings deployed his K-9 for a “free-air” sniff around the car and it alerted to the presence of drugs.

Attorneys confer with Judge Dustin Stephenson

Investigators testified a baggie containing a white substance was visible on the back floorboard. When the car was searched investigators found the baggie contained 58 grams of what turned out to be methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle testified that when deputies turned on their emergency lights to pull them over, he watched Cavazos, in the passenger’s seat, pull out a baggie filled with white powder and stuff it behind him onto the back floorboard.

The defendant was also found guilty of Tampering with a Witness. After his arrest, a recorded jail call showed he was trying to conspire with one of the co-defendants to blame the driver.

Basford thanked the Sheriff’s Office and SID for another investigation targeting a major dealer that concluded before the drugs could be sold on the street.

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

30-Year Sentence for Man With 700+ Grams of Cocaine

Posted on July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 by Admin SA

A man who picked up a package containing more than 700 grams of cocaine while under surveillance was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday after being found guilty of Trafficking in Cocaine (More than 400 Grams), State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Naiym Muhammad, 33, of Panama City, was also found guilty of Tampering with Evidence Friday. Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay sentenced the defendant to 30 years in prison, with the first 15 years being minimum-mandatory.

Prosecutor Jada Watkins called 5 witnesses – 3 Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives agent, and a Florida Department of Law Enforcement analyst – to prove her case.

“This was a large amount of cocaine and the collaboration between the different agencies involved not only stopped these drugs from making it to the street, it held the defendant accountable,” Watkins said. “The US Postal Inspection Service did a great job by identifying the package as suspicious and notifying law enforcement.”

The evidence showed that in early February 2023, the US Postal Inspection Service notified the Bay County Sheriff’s Office that it had flagged a suspicious package sent from Brownsville, Texas, to an address on E. 7^th Plaza here. Their investigation showed the sender of the package was using a fictitious name and was also using a fictitious name for the recipient at the Panama City address.

As part of an undercover operation the package was delivered to the address while members of the BCSO Special Investigation Division maintained surveillance on the residence. Shortly after the package was delivered Feb. 9, 2023, a man later identified as the defendant pulled into the driveway. He approached the front porch, looked in both directions, picked up the package and returned to his car.

He drove away and investigators followed as they saw him run a stop sign and make an illegal U-turn on 11^th Street. They initiated a traffic stop and saw the defendant throw a phone out of his window before pulling over.

A drug-detecting K-9 alerted for the presence of drugs in the vehicle and investigators saw the package. When they opened it they found the cocaine in vacuum-sealed packaging.

Basford thanked the U.S. Postal Service, BCSO, and all involved for their work that kept the drugs from being sold and led to a successful outcome.

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

Man Facing Meth Trafficking Trial Enters Plea, Receives 15-year Sentence

Posted on July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 by Admin SA

A Panama City man set to go to trial Thursday for Trafficking in Methamphetamine (more than 28) grams instead entered an open plea Wednesday and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Lajarvis Santez Allen, 40, of Panama City, entered an open plea to the charge, meaning Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay would decide the sentence without an arranged agreement. The charge carries a minimum-mandatory 7 years in prison and up to 30 years.

After hearing from Prosecutor Zachary VanDyke, the defendant, and family members of the defendant, Gay handed down a sentence of 15 years.

“The State would say this isn’t the kind of person we want out on the streets of Florida, and that you sentence him to at least 15 years in the Department of Corrections,” VanDyke said.

VanDyke was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence that Panama City Beach Police Department detectives developed information the defendant was delivering a large amount of methamphetamine to a location on the beach on Feb. 15, 2024.

The defendant was under surveillance and was detained after pulling into a driveway in the area where the transaction was supposed to occur. Detectives said the defendant was moving “furtively” and appeared to be concealing an item in his pants while still in the car.

A drug-detecting K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle, which was searched without success. But the defendant was found to have about 2 ounces of methamphetamine hidden in his boxer shorts.

Basford thanked the Panama City Beach Police Department for its pre-emptive work that kept the methamphetamine from reaching the streets.

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

Man Found Guilty of Trafficking Fentanyl, Sentenced to 30 years in Prison

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Admin SA

A jury needed only 13 minutes Thursday to find a man guilty of Trafficking in Fentanyl (more than 28 grams) after he drove from Fort Walton Beach to sell an ounce and a half of fentanyl to a Panama City Police Department confidential informant, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Mario Ardale Donaldson, 24, of Fort Walton Beach, was also found guilty of Unlawful use of a Two-Way Communications Device. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson ordered the 30-year sentence, which includes a minimum-mandatory 25 years and a $500,000 fine under Florida’s enhanced drug trafficking statutes.

Prosecutor Christopher Walters called two Panama City Police Department Corporals who testified Donaldson agreed to the sale through a confidential informant March 11, 2025. The defendant was known as a fentanyl dealer, and told police he was “fronted” the drugs before driving to Panama City. That means he had to pay back his dealer once he made the sale.

But when he got back to Panama City and went to the designated spot for the transaction, he instead was detained by Panama City police.

During questioning at the Panama City Police Department, it was learned the defendant was carrying a large bag of fentanyl in his groin area. He retrieved it for police and admitted his participation in the day’s activities.

“This is a large amount of fentanyl and the Panama City Police Department did an excellent job of reacting to information it developed and making an arrest before it could hit the streets,” Walters said. “Fentanyl is so potent and unpredictable, and it is a plague on the community.”

The testimony and evidence proved that a confidential information told police he knew someone selling large amounts of fentanyl. He called the defendant, with police monitoring, and set up the deal.

Basford thanked the Panama City Police Department for its quick action in the case.

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