Florida man peddles meth from home while under house arrest

FLORIDA – A Perry man was convicted last week of drug trafficking charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced.

A federal jury in Tallahassee convicted Beyah Islam Basha, 44, of Perry, Florida, of two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The guilty verdict, returned on August 23 after a two-day trial, was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that Basha sold drugs to confidential sources working for law enforcement on multiple occasions between July 7, 2021, and August 25, 2021.

An undercover DEA agent reportedly accompanied one of the confidential sources as they purchased three ounces of methamphetamine from Basha at his residence. During the period of the controlled purchases, Basha was on house arrest for prior state court drug charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Several cooperating witnesses testified that Basha had sold them methamphetamine from his home. One witness also described how Basha had provided them with $4000 and directions to purchase 9 ounces of methamphetamine in Tallahassee, given his travel limitations.

Basha’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 14, 2022, at 11 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

Basha faces 25 years to life imprisonment, 10 years to life supervised release and a fine of up to $20,000,000.

This conviction resulted from a joint investigation by the Perry Police Department, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.