Two Bay County Men Convicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal jury in Tallahassee has convicted Brian Joins, 51, and Joshua Webb, 38, both of Panama City, Florida for the offenses of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Webb was also convicted for the offense of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The guilty verdict returned today, at the conclusion of a four-day trial, was announced by Jason R. Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that guns and drugs were seized by law enforcement during the execution of two search warrants from two different residences in Panama City, Florida. More specifically, during the execution of the first search warrant on August 7, 2020, law enforcement seized approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and a .25 caliber Beretta firearm from a Panama City residence and a vehicle parked outside. Both Joins and Webb were found near the methamphetamine, which had been divided into equal amounts of roughly one kilogram. Joins and Webb were arrested, and Webb was subsequently released on a state court bond. During the execution of the second search warrant on August 28, 2020, law enforcement seized a Hi-Point 9mm firearm from a different Panama City residence, occupied by Webb, and approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine from his vehicle which was parked outside.

Joins and Webb are scheduled to be sentenced before Chief District Court Judge Mark Walker on October 8, 2021, at 10:00 am and 11:00 am respectively, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Both defendants face not less than ten years imprisonment to life and not less than five years on supervised release for the conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute convictions. Webb also faces not more than ten years imprisonment and not more than three years on supervised release for his conviction of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Aine Ahmed prosecuted the case.

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 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.