Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Tyquan M. Watson and Dezaneil D. Cosby Jr., both from Tallahassee, Florida, have been found guilty of conspiring to distribute marijuana on a large scale. The federal jury's verdict was announced by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, following a four-day trial.
The court heard evidence showing that Watson purchased hundreds of pounds of marijuana weekly from California sources, which he then sold in Tallahassee and nearby areas. Between September 24, 2023, and January 10, 2024, Watson acquired at least 3169 pounds of marijuana with profits reaching $2.4 million.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) conducted the investigation over an extended period. On October 13, 2022, FDLE carried out a controlled purchase involving 28 pounds of marijuana from a codefendant linked to Cosby's residence. During this operation, fingerprints from both the codefendant and Watson were found on packaging materials.
A subsequent search warrant executed by DEA at Cosby's residence on October 28, 2022, resulted in the seizure of 238 pounds of marijuana and a firearm. Both Watson and Cosby were convicted concerning the October 13 controlled purchase; Cosby also faced charges for possessing with intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana related to the October search.
On March 11, 2024, both men were arrested under federal warrants at another location in Tallahassee where law enforcement discovered an additional 183 pounds of marijuana and a firearm.
Sentencing is set for May 2, 2025: Watson at 11:00 am and Cosby at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.
This conviction followed an investigation by multiple agencies including DEA, FDLE, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tallahassee Police Department, and Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Harley Ferguson prosecuted the case.
The prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations through collaboration among various law enforcement agencies.
Further information about OCDETF can be accessed via https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Public court documents are available online through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. Additional details about the United States Attorney’s Office for this district can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
