Markenzy Lapointe U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
On January 28, a federal jury convicted Otis Furman Crabbe III, a resident of Jensen Beach, Florida, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The case arose from an incident on June 14, 2023, when law enforcement officers stopped Crabbe in downtown Stuart, Florida. The stop was initiated due to the dark window tinting on his white Mercedes Benz sedan.
Crabbe explained to the officers that he was partially blind and required the dark tinting because of light sensitivity. However, during a canine inspection of his vehicle, officers discovered a suitcase in the trunk containing approximately 80 grams of methamphetamine.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 17 at 11:30 a.m., where Crabbe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life in prison.
The announcement of the conviction was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division, and Sheriff John Budensiek of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
The investigation was conducted by the HSI Fort Pierce Field Office and MCSO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Breezye Telfair prosecuted the case.
Court documents and further information can be accessed on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida or through their PACER system under case number 24-cr-14037.
