Florida meth dealer is dealt more than a decade behind bars

FLORIDA – A Florida man who pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine has been sentenced to federal prison for his crimes.

Felipe Kearley, 28, of Jacksonville, has been sentenced to 13 years and nine months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.

Kearley pleaded on October 20, 2022.

In June 2022, Kearley’s co-defendant, George Walters, 32, of Jacksonville, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in federal prison. Walters was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida said in a statement.

According to court documents, on February 4, 2021, Kearley met with a cooperating individual who contacted Walters and reportedly received a pound of methamphetamine from him in exchange for $5,500. On February 19, 2021, Kearley arranged another transaction with Walters in a public parking lot. Walters fled from law enforcement on foot and threw two packages, one containing over two kilograms of methamphetamine with a purity level of 98.9% and the second containing cocaine weighing 27.9 grams.

“Methamphetamine is a poison that erodes our communities and our culture,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips.

“This 13-plus-year sentence is a direct result of outstanding law enforcement partnerships between HSI, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Highway Patrol, and serves as a strong notice that we will continue to seek out and prosecute those who introduce illicit narcotics into our communities.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Hackenberry. The asset forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.