Ronald Carl Peavy II, 49, of Old Town, Florida, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to a June 2 announcement by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Heekin said, “This drug trafficker’s days of running deadly narcotics in our community are over thanks to the excellent investigative work by the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office with support from the DEA. Meth has been a scourge that devastated entire communities for far too long, but under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche the Department of Justice is aggressively pursuing drug traffickers through Operation Take Back America to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.”
According to court documents, a Dixie County Sheriff’s Office deputy found Peavy’s car parked in an intersection during early morning hours. After observing no movement for several minutes, the deputy approached and found Peavy asleep at the wheel with his car running but in park. The deputy woke him and ensured there was no medical emergency before detecting marijuana odor inside the vehicle. A search revealed two zippered cases: one containing more than 400 grams of methamphetamine and another holding approximately 77 grams of marijuana.
Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler said, “The successful prosecution of this offender sends a clear message that drug trafficking has serious consequences. The substantial quantity of methamphetamine recovered in this case represented a significant threat to the safety of our community. Thanks to the diligence of our deputies and the strong collaboration between our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, dangerous drugs were removed from our streets, and an offender was held accountable for his actions. We remain committed to working alongside our partners at every level to keep Dixie County safe.”
The investigation involved cooperation between the Drug Enforcement Administration and Dixie County Sheriff’s Office; Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James A. McCain prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration as well as cartels and transnational criminal organizations—to protect communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida enforces federal laws across 23 counties including Tallahassee and collaborates with law enforcement agencies on initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood, according to its official website.