FLORIDA — A man from Tallahassee who received shipments of methamphetamine through the mail has been sentenced to federal prison.
Chason Michael Miles Johnson, 30, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.
“This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness and collaborative efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners to identify and intercept shipments of illegal substances via the United States Mail,” said Mr Coody.
“Moreover, the sentence should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would use the United States Postal Service to conduct illegal activities.”
Court documents reflect that upon Mr Johnson’s release from state prison in March 2022, he began receiving methamphetamine via the United States Postal Service from a source in Arizona. The United States Postal Inspection Service uncovered the plot after flagging one of the packages destined for Mr Johnson, obtaining a search warrant, and discovering that it contained approximately half a pound of methamphetamine.
A second package destined for Johnson was likewise intercepted, a search warrant was obtained, and it was found to contain approximately a pound of methamphetamine.
On August 24, 2022, a federal search warrant was executed at Johnson’s home, and officers reported finding a .22 caliber pistol and ammunition, over an ounce of methamphetamine, and various other drugs.
“Many lives in America have been poisoned by the illicit drugs distributed by criminals such as Johnson,” said Juan A. Vargas, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will not stop targeting, disrupting, and dismantling every level of these drug trafficking organizations, which are poisoning the American people.”
Mr Johnson was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, having been recently released from a five-year state prison sentence for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and trafficking in methamphetamine, said the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
Mr Johnson’s prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Tallahassee Police Department conducted a joint investigation that led to this prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.