Florida trio found guilty for their roles in methamphetamine distribution conspiracy

DeFuniak Springs, Florida – A federal jury has found three people from DeFuniak Springs guilty for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Philip Beck, 47, Florence Beck, 46, and Joshua Martinez, 27, faced charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Jason R. Coody, announced the verdict following a four-day trial.

The Investigation Unfolds

The investigation into the trio’s activities began with a traffic stop on January 16, 2023, when the DeFuniak Springs Police Department pulled over a Ram truck driven by Philip Beck. During the stop, officers discovered approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine. The case widened on March 10, 2023, when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted two packages mailed from California, each containing about five pounds of methamphetamine, addressed to locations in Niceville and DeFuniak Springs. It was revealed during the trial that Philip Beck and Joshua Martinez were the intended recipients of these drug shipments, with Florence Beck implicated in assisting their operations.

Sentencing and Implications

The trio now awaits sentencing, scheduled for May 30, 2024, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, presided over by the Honorable United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. Philip Beck and Florence Beck face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison, while Joshua Martinez, who has a prior conviction, faces a more severe minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, with the possibility of life imprisonment for all three.

This case resulted from a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the DeFuniak Springs Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.