Panama City Beach Meth Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison

Tallahassee, Florida - Jerry Thomas McCarigie, 49, of Panama City Beach, was sentenced to over six years in federal prison after a jury previously found him guilty of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Eliminating the scourge of methamphetamine in our communities requires close collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners and aggressive prosecutions to send the peddlers of this deadly poison to prison. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward dismantling and eradicating drug trafficking networks that have invaded our communities, and my office will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this one to deliver on the promise that our citizens deserve safe, drug-free streets."

Evidence and testimony admitted at trial established that on November 15, 2023, the Bay County Sheriff's Office's Special Investigations Division conducted a drug trafficking investigation at a motel located in Panama City Beach. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the defendant's motel room. During the execution of the warrant, the defendant was detained and law enforcement located fentanyl, multiple baggies containing more than 48 grams of methamphetamine, and a digital scale in the defendant's pockets.

"We continue to have success targeting criminals in the Panhandle region," said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Drug Enforcement Administration Tampa Field Division. "We will not rest until they are brought to justice."

After serving his term of imprisonment, McCarigie will have to serve 4 years on supervised release.

The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.