Wanted Career Criminal From Molino Busted In Central America

October 17, 2019

A career criminal from Molino has learned the long arm of the law will catch up, even if you flee to Central America.

Steven Ray Stokes, 54, was arrested in Panama under the lead of U.S. Marshals. He is on federal supervised release from a conviction of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a weapon.

“Marshals here in Pensacola sent a lead to our liaison in Panama who then arrested him,” Dominic Guadagnoli of the U.S. Marshals told NorthEscambia.com.

Stokes also has an active Escambia County Sheriff’s Office warrant for grand theft for allegedly stealing a motorcycle from Cantonment in 2018. His arrest comes two weeks after a story about the active warrant on NorthEscambia.com.

He was sentenced in 2003 to 174 months in federal prison followed by five years probation for for unlawful transport of firearms and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, His sentenced was later reduced.

He also served state prison time for multiple convictions. In 2002, he was convicted of running a chop shop on his property in Molino, along with racketeering. Over five dozen stolen vehicles were reportedly found on the property, along with over 50 pounds of marijuana. He would purchase wrecked vehicles at auction and swap the vehicle registration numbers onto stolen vehicles to be resold.

State records show he has also served prison time for convictions dating back to 1996 for trafficking in marijuana, selling cocaine, cocaine possession, fleeing from law enforcement and resisting an officer with violence.

Comments

11 Responses to “Wanted Career Criminal From Molino Busted In Central America”

  1. mike on October 22nd, 2019 12:15 am

    Tabby

    yeah, i’m sure the judge thought he was such a cool guy he just needed that sentence reduced. LOL! :D

  2. deBugger on October 19th, 2019 6:52 pm

    Face it, Tabby~~~

    If he was “on the hook” to the cartel(s), he’d LONG SINCE become a drug trade slave, & he did whatever they told him to do…

    like “take it on the LAM”.

    Diggitt?

  3. Tabby on October 19th, 2019 9:57 am

    Mike
    Seems unlikely he snitched. For the chop shop thing, he was the highest man on the ladder. The methamphetamine case, well, the Hispanics run the show around here. Seems unlikely if he snitched on them that he’d run to Central America.
    You know people get time cut for all sorts of legal reasons. They can get a modification/reduction for an assortment of things. If someone wanted revenge, the easiest place to obtain it would have been while he was incarcerated.

  4. deBugger on October 18th, 2019 7:26 am

    I remember when he was a little kid on the Barrineau Park Elementary School Bus.

    Stevie, Stevie, Stevie… WHERE did you go wrong?

  5. Latisha on October 17th, 2019 4:59 pm

    He is right were he needs to be,they need to lock him up and throw away the key,I sure can sleep better now ,my nightmare is locked up!!!Some people never change,it’s ashamed he comes from a good family!! I know I can sleep better now!!

  6. Pattie Brill on October 17th, 2019 9:24 am

    Thanks to all law enforcement for your diligent work on this case. I hope this time
    justice system can make the right decision to lock him up for good. He is a habitual
    felon and a drain of our tax payers money. ¹¹

  7. Danny on October 17th, 2019 9:10 am

    Ha ha

  8. Williwonka on October 17th, 2019 7:01 am

    Excellent work U.S. Marshalls.
    Judges sure like to turn this guy loose for some reason.

  9. Bartender on October 17th, 2019 6:38 am

    You can run but you cant hide from the po.po.

  10. mike on October 17th, 2019 6:27 am

    a rat, a snitch, a stoolie, running from the street justice that some group or organization wants to serve him with, i’d say. how do you think that sentence got reduced? :)

  11. Linda Moorer on October 17th, 2019 5:53 am

    bad boy bad what u going to do when they come for u