Key West Man Sentenced to Thirty Years on Drug Charges

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh announced thatMichael Clifford Watson, 32, of Key West, Florida, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert Hinkle to serve 360 months in prison for drug conspiracy charges.  Watson will serve an eight-year term of supervised release after his incarceration.

Watson was arrested at a Tallahassee apartment on November 19, 2012, based upon outstanding drug charges from Key West.  Six ounces of cocaine, digital scales, and $2,760 were seized at the time of his arrest.  At Watson’s sentencing, the Court determined that he was distributing oxycodone in addition to cocaine in Tallahassee.  Watson pled guilty in October 2013, on the date set for jury selection. 

Watson was sentenced as a career offender.  He was convicted in 2001 of possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and in 2010 of sale of cocaine, both times in Key West.  According to court proceedings, Watson has served three terms in the Florida Department of Corrections.

U.S. Attorney Marsh credited the success of this prosecution to the joint efforts of the Tallahassee Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Key West Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Simpson.