Local Man Sentenced For Drug Trafficking Offenses
PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Jonathon Luke Holder, 23, of Panama City Beach, was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Richard Smoak for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The sentence was announced by A.D. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Holder admitted that, on January 7, 2015, he travelled from Bay County, Florida, to the Atlanta, Georgia, area to purchase methamphetamine that he intended to distribute. When Holder left Bay County to travel to the Atlanta area, he took with him a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol for his protection and for the protection of his drug-trafficking activities.
Holder returned to the Bay County area early the next morning. Holder was arrested as he exited the vehicle he was driving with a small Sentry safe. Inside the safe, Holder had approximately 1010 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and the pistol.
This was Holder’s third trip to the Atlanta area to purchase methamphetamine for distribution in the Bay County area. In the first trip, Holder purchased and distributed one pound of methamphetamine, and in the second trip, Holder purchased and distributed two pounds of methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA Panama City Resident Office. The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
