United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Gainesville, Fla. – Ronald Carl Peavy II, 49, of Old Town, Fla., was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. 

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This drug trafficker’s days of running deadly narcotics in our community are over thanks to the excellent investigative work by the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office with support from the DEA. Meth has been a scourge that devastated entire communities for far too long, but under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche the Department of Justice is aggressively pursuing drug traffickers through Operation Take Back America to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.” 

Court documents reflect a Dixie County Sheriff’s Office deputy found the defendant’s car parked in the middle of an intersection in the early morning hours. After several minutes of the car not moving, the deputy approached and found the defendant asleep with the car running but placed in park. The deputy woke up the defendant and ensured he was not suffering from a medical problem. After smelling marijuana in the vehicle, the deputy searched the car and found two zippered cases, one of which contained more than 400 grams of methamphetamine, and the other contained approximately 77 grams of marijuana. 

“The successful prosecution of this offender sends a clear message that drug trafficking has serious consequences,” said Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler. “The substantial quantity of methamphetamine recovered in this case represented a significant threat to the safety of our community. Thanks to the diligence of our deputies and the strong collaboration between our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, dangerous drugs were removed from our streets, and an offender was held accountable for his actions. We remain committed to working alongside our partners at every level to keep Dixie County safe.”

The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James A. McCain.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.