15-year prison sentence for major drug trafficker in North Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (OSP) has secured a 15-year prison sentence for a man involved in a large drug-trafficking organization operating in Gadsden and Leon counties, Ms Moody has announced.

A Leon County jury found Ja’mario Paramore guilty of conspiracy to traffic cocaine between 450 grams to 150 kilograms. Judge Stephen Everett sentenced Mr Paramore to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of probation.

“This drug trafficker participated as a runner in a large drug ring that obtained cocaine from California to be distributed throughout North Florida,” said Ms Moody.

“We will not allow drug dealers to flood dangerous, illicit drugs into our state, and now, thanks to our Statewide Prosecutors, this trafficker is headed to prison.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) began investigating Paramore as part of Operation No Warning, a large law enforcement effort that took down 27 suspected dealers.

The investigation reportedly found that Mr Paramore was responsible for being the runner or right-hand man to the alleged leader of the organization, Kevin Choute. Paramore is said to be Mr Choute’s nephew.

According to prosecutors, Paramore made sure operations ran smoothly by confirming deliveries went to the right customers, collecting drug debts, and facilitating operations, while Choute reportedly traveled to California for more illicit drugs.

Attorney General Moody’s OSP, FDLE, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Tallahassee Police Department participated in the investigation. Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Guillermo Vallejo and Reid Hailey handled the case.