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12 Local Residents Set For Sentencing On Federal Meth Related Charges
June 6, 2013
A dozen local residents — including six from North Escambia — arrested back in April on methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine related conspiracy charges have have either pleaded guilty or been convicted.
A federal judge convicted 29-year old Jared L. Hester of Pensacola on charges involving a conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine, knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Prosecutors said Hester was involved in the conspiracy to possess and distribute large amounts of pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine from January 1, 2011, until his arrest in April 2013.
The jury heard from other members of the conspiracy and was shown pharmacy records displaying dozens of pseudoephedrine purchases by Hester during the conspiracy. Many of these purchases overlapped with his co-defendants’ purchases. In all, the conspirators purchased between 350 and 400 boxes of pseudoephedrine, so that it could be manufactured into methamphetamine. All of Hester’s seven co-defendants pled guilty to the charges.
Guilty pleas have been entered in federal court by additional defendants: Gregory A. Militello, age 42 of Cantonment; Stephanie Ann Gunderson, age 26 of Cantonment; Shawn Michael King, age 34 of Cantonment; Joseph David Peterson age 33 of Cantonment; Hunter Grant Myrick, age 23 from Cantonment; Kirby Brian Smith, age 50 of Molino; Joshua Paul Militello, age 30 of Pensacola ; Nicole Danielle Jones, age 32 of Pensacola; James E. Atiabi, age 35 of Penacola; John Wyatt Casey, age 33 of Pensacola; and Shannon Lee Hurd, age 29 of Pensacola.
Federal prosecutors say suspects were all were involved in a conspiracy to possess and distribute large amounts of pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine from January 1, 2011, until their arrests.
The indictments resulted from an investigation by agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office.
All are sent for sentencing this summer, with defendants facing up to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, three years supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine.
Comments
10 Responses to “12 Local Residents Set For Sentencing On Federal Meth Related Charges”
I pray that local law enforcement will continue to hone in on all meth related offenders. This capture is a blessing in disguise for these people who were arrested. . . Most of them still have their faces.
These boys and girls will be doing federal time, ergo, they will be required to work and while in prison will be expected to take what little they earn (it isn’t much, believe me) and pay it to their outstanding fines. Any other cash awards they may earn (such as completion of a GED) will also go to the fines they owe. Other parts of the fine are covered by any real property that they may have (house, car, etc) and a judgement is placed on such so that any money earned is taken by the Govt. to cover their fines, if the property isn’t seized as well. The drug money, if any, was seized, so that’s out. They’ll have to pay some, but probably won’t pay it all. However, they’ll be doing some serious time with the feds – at least 85% of it assuming they earn all their good conduct time! Hopefully, it will make a positive difference in some of their lives as they will have access to drug abuse programs, etc.
Not trying to step on anyone’s toes here, but the fine that any individual receives as part of a sentence with an inmate being incarcerated, will be reduced to a Civil Lien and once a person has a civil lien in their record, it makes so that person will not be able to drive LEGALLY on our streets. Not to say that whenever a person is let loose from prison or jail, that they don’t drive (I have seen this with my own eyes). J/S
People arrested for meth take the best mugshots. I hope at least one of these people get rehabilitated. Meth is a terrible substance.
Oh yea I neglected to add hard labor to the sentence…
All of them require a long removal from society…set a precedent judge and give them all the max penalty, its what they all deserve …that crap is poison and all of them conspired to cook it up and poison no telling how many people…theres no way to know how many lives they have ruined already with that stuff..take out the garbage judge…
No it will never get paid, but it should be handled in a way that will make the next 12 think. I see it like this they find the money to make/buy meth, so clean yourself up, get a job and put the drug money on your fine. If the fine is not paid then lock them up and MAKE them work, with a portion going to the state for their stay in the state facility and the remainder toward the fine, staying until the fine is paid in full.
@ dads comment, looks like they got the turnip though!!!!!!
These people never heard of Reductive Animation and they never learned from observing the effects on others that Meth is a BAD DRUG!
I’m glad they are caught and convicted. But why the $250,000. dollar fine. No one really thinks that will get paid do they. Can’t get blood out of a turnip.