Walton man reportedly found with meth sentenced to 15 years

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – A Walton County man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has announced.

According to the announcement, Joseph Fletcher Lee, Jr., 47, of Defuniak Springs, was sentenced last week to serve a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to the charges of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Communities throughout our district are plagued by methamphetamine distribution,” said Coody.

“We are committed to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and aggressively prosecute drug traffickers who distribute these addictive, controlled substances. This sentence is further proof of this resolve.”

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on October 14, 2021, law enforcement executed two federal search warrants at Lee’s residence and property located in Walton County. Inside the residence, law enforcement said they located and seized approximately 466.5 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and approximately $23,419 in cash.

Lee’s imprisonment will be followed by 10 years of supervised release.

The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love.