MARIANNA MAN RECEIVES 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR DEALING METHAMPHETAMINE

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Today, United States Attorney John Heekin announced that Lorenzo Heatrice, 70, of Marianna, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after having been found guilty by a federal jury of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 5 and 50 grams of methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I commend our state and federal law enforcement partners for their diligent work in investigating Mr. Heatrice’s drug trafficking and helping to bring him to justice. Methamphetamine is a scourge that my office, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue to help keep the residents of our community healthy and safe.”

Trial testimony established that, beginning in June 2023 through early 2024, Lorenzo Heatrice, along with others, sold multiple ounce quantities of methamphetamine throughout Jackson County. Evidence demonstrated that Heatrice was personally responsible for distributing at least 850 grams of methamphetamine to other dealers who then resold the drugs.

“This sentencing reflects the hard work of DEA and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in this joint investigation,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This partnership resulted in one less meth distributor poisoning our communities.”

“Each day we suffer the harsh consequences drug traffickers plague our community with by their selfish actions.  The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office stands committed to relentlessly pursuing these individuals and will work cohesively with our law enforcement partners to protect those that choose Jackson County as their home,” said Sheriff Edenfield, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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 available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.