70-Year-Old Florida Man to Spend Next Decade in Prison on Meth Charges
A 70-year-old man from Marianna has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after being found guilty of federal methamphetamine trafficking charges.
According to the official release, Lorenzo Heatrice was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession with intent to distribute between 5 and 50 grams of the drug. The sentencing was announced Tuesday by United States Attorney John Heekin, who stated Heatrice will serve 10 years in federal prison.
“Methamphetamine is a scourge that my office, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue to help keep the residents of our community healthy and safe,” U.S. Attorney Heekin said.
According to court testimony, Heatrice was involved in a drug trafficking operation that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine throughout Jackson County between June 2023 and early 2024. Investigators say he was personally responsible for distributing at least 850 grams—nearly two pounds—of meth to other dealers.
“Each day we suffer the harsh consequences drug traffickers plague our community with by their selfish actions. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office stands committed to relentlessly pursuing these individuals and will work cohesively with our law enforcement partners to protect those that choose Jackson County as their home,” said Sheriff Edenfield, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Under Florida law, methamphetamine trafficking is considered a first-degree felony, with penalties based on the quantity involved. Distributing between 14 and 28 grams carries a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison and up to 30 years, along with a $50,000 fine. Larger quantities increase both the minimum prison term and fines, with trafficking over 200 grams resulting in a mandatory minimum of 15 years and fines up to $250,000. While Heatrice was sentenced in federal court, Florida law similarly reflects the severity of meth-related offenses, reinforcing how seriously both state and federal systems treat drug trafficking crimes.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch, following a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. It was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks and transnational criminal organizations.
