Husband, wife, and son sentenced for drug trafficking in Walton County

FLORIDA—Three members of a family living in DeFuniak Springs have been sentenced for their roles in trafficking drugs in Walton County, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida (USAO).

According to the USAO, a federal judge sentenced a husband, wife, and their son after previously having been convicted by a federal jury for trafficking methamphetamine.

According to Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, the defendants and their sentences were:

• Philip Beck, 48, 262 months in prison
• Florence Beck, 47, 120 months in prison
• Joshua Martinez, 28, 258 months in prison

All will be on supervised release once they are released from custody.

“Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe by removing addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody.

“We remain committed to support their efforts through the investigation and vigorous prosecution of criminals bringing drugs into North Florida. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of harming our citizens through illicit drug trafficking activities.”

The USAO said the investigation revealed that on January 16, 2023, the DeFuniak Springs Police Department stopped a Ram truck operated by Philip Beck and discovered approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine.

On March 10, 2023, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted two packages mailed from California to addresses in Niceville and Mossy Head, each containing approximately five pounds of methamphetamine. Subsequent investigation revealed that Philip Beck and Joshua Martinez were the intended recipients of the drug parcels, and Florence Beck was assisting them.

“The partnership between the Postal Service and our VICE/Narcotics Unit was critical in getting deadly drugs off our streets,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson.

“We are grateful our federal partners were able to achieve significant sentences in this case, keeping these dealers out of our communities for the next two decades.”

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the DeFuniak Springs Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant United States Attorney Walter Narramore prosecuted the case.