Zephyrhills Man Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For Methamphetamine Trafficking
NOV 07 - (TAMPA, FL) Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, Robert E. O’Neill, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, and David Gee, Sheriff, Hillsborough County Sheriff's (HCSO), announced today that U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced George Arthur (46, Zephyrhills) to 25 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. As part of the sentence, the court also ordered Farmer to pay restitution to the HCSO in the amount of $3,183.89, for damages he caused to a deputy's motorcycle during the traffic stop leading to his arrest on the drug charge. On August 8, 2012, Farmer was found guilty by a jury.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on February 1, 2012, Farmer was arrested by a HCSO motorcycle deputy after Farmer deliberately rammed his red Honda CBR 1000 Motorcycle into the deputy and tried to elude arrest. The deputy had originally attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Farmer, after it was determined that the license plate on the motorcycle that Framer was riding had expired and was registered to a stolen motorcycle reported in Pasco County. Further investigation revealed that Farmer's driver’s license was suspended and the red Honda motorcycle which he was driving had an altered Vehicle Identification Number and had been stolen out of Miami in October of 2011. In the seat compartment of the motorcycle, the deputy found over 60 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Farmer has at least three prior felony drug convictions for possession of methamphetamine and cocaine. He also had prior convictions in Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco, and Sumter counties for aggravated assault and battery upon law enforcement officers, resisting arrest with violence, fleeing and attempting to elude arrest, grand theft, carrying a concealed firearm and driving while his license was suspended.
This case was investigated by the DEA Tampa District Office and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
