Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Contributor
On Monday, May 22, Madison County Sheriff David Harper reported that members of the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigative Unit participated in a large-scale, regional investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Perry Police Department, as well as members of the NorthStar Drug Task Force, including the Wakulla, Bay, Gulf, and Leon County Sheriff’s Offices.
On Tuesday, April 11, at approximately 12:17 a.m., the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Investigators, Sergeant’s Jeff Rosenburg and Eddie Brannon, conducted a traffic stop on a 2010 Nissan being driven by Miranda Stafford. The traffic stop was initiated at the I-10 exit 258 and south CR 53. However, Stafford was reluctant to stop, causing Sgt’s Rosenburg and Brannon to strategically position their units to force Stafford to stop the vehicle at the intersection of South CR 53 and SW Old St. Augustine Road, in Madison. When approaching the vehicle and occupants thereof, the investigators observed drug paraphernalia on the floorboard. After Sgt. Rosenburg’s observing of the paraphernalia, a detailed search of the vehicle discovered 720 grams of methamphetamine. Stafford was taken into custody without further incident and charged with trafficking methamphetamine and resisting without violence.
As a result of this investigation, a federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment, charging Miranda Stafford, 55 years of age and of Perry, Fla., with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of over 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment further detailed that between on or about March 1, 2023, and on or about April 11, 2023, Stafford conspired with other individuals to possess, with intent to distribute, and distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that on or about April 4, 2023, Stafford distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and on or about April 11, 2023, possessed with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Miranda Stafford has since been transferred from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office custody to the custody of the U.S. Marshall’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin is prosecuting the case and, based on prior felony drug trafficking convictions, if convicted, Stafford faces not less than 25 years up to life in prison for all three charges.
Sheriff Harper commends the agencies involved in this case and expounds on the valuable asset of agencies working together to identify, disrupt, and dismantle some of the highest-level drug traffickers and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens within our communities, utilizing the multi-agency approach, leveraging the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against these criminals and their networks.