GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Burgess Green, 41, of Ocala, Florida, was sentenced on September 1, 2020, to a total of 9 years in federal prison after pleading guilty on September 19, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Green is now a fourteen-time convicted felon with prior convictions for sale of cocaine and possession with intent to sell cocaine and cannabis, evidence tampering, fleeing/eluding law enforcement, and possession of cocaine. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.
“The sale and use of methamphetamines in our communities has devastating and wide-reaching effects and must be stopped,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “With the help of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue, prosecute, and punish those who bring these drugs into hometowns across Northern Florida.”
Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have been working with deputies from the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) to investigate and prosecute individuals who are distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in the Dixie County area. On June 5, 2019, agents learned that Green was in Dixie County to deliver methamphetamine. As he was leaving Dixie County, DCSO deputies alerted the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO). LCSO deputies identified the vehicle Green was traveling in and conducted a traffic stop. During the search that followed, deputies found that Green was in possession of more than $2,000 cash. They also located a loaded pistol in the vehicle. Green admitted that he had just delivered methamphetamine to individuals in Dixie County and that the cash was proceeds from those sales. Green also admitted the firearm was his.
“Those who distribute dangerous drugs in our communities endanger lives,” said Keith Weis, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Miami Field Division. “The DEA Miami Field Division will continue our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at all levels to investigate and stop violent drug trafficking in Florida.”
Further investigation by the DEA revealed that Green was involved with several others in an ongoing conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Dixie County area. Agents determined that over the course of the conspiracy, Green had supplied over 5 kilograms worth of methamphetamine to individuals in Dixie County.
Green will serve 7 years on the conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine charge followed by 2 years on the firearm charge. The Court also ordered 5 years of supervised release following Green’s prison term. This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Elsey.
