Port St. Joe man sentenced to 15 years for drug trafficking, firearm offenses
PENSACOLA — A Port St. Joe man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearm offense charges resulting from a 2021 controlled purchase by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Fabian Tomaz Frazier, 27, plead guilty to charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and conspiracy to distribute marijuana and over 500 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida on August 19.
“Communities throughout our district are plagued by methamphetamine distribution,” said Coody. “We are committed to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and aggressively prosecute armed drug traffickers who distribute these addictive, controlled substances. This sentence is further proof of this resolve.”
Evidence introduced during the sentencing hearing demonstrated that Frazier was distributing multiple pounds of methamphetamine and marijuana in the area of Port St. Joe.
On March 15, 2021, the Florida Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Frazier near Lake City, during which they discovered 11 pounds of marijuana and a loaded .45 caliber handgun.
Frazier was arrested on state charges and subsequently released.
Despite his arrest and narcotics seizure, Frazier continued his illegal drug trafficking activities. On May 22, 2021, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office used a confidential source to conduct a controlled purchase of 18 ounces of methamphetamine from Frazier, giving rise to the charges to which he has been sentenced.
“I appreciate U.S. Attorney Coody and his team for their hard work and dedication,” said Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison. “Armed Drug Traffickers like Frazier needs to be off the streets and serving time in prison. Good job by all involved in this case.”
Frazier’s federal prison sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release.
“Methamphetamine is destroying lives and tears at the fabric of our families and community,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “We are proud to work with our partners to hold those that traffic in these destructive drugs accountable.”
This case resulted from an investigation by the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.