Andrew Tyler Harp, Meth and Firearms Offenses, Florida 2022

Grimy Times has learned that Andrew Tyler Harp, a 31-year-old St. Augustine man, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On November 24, 2021, a deputy from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office witnessed Harp commit a traffic offense in St. Johns County. The deputy signaled Harp to pull over, but Harp initially appeared to be looking for a place to stop and then accelerated and started racing down the streets of a residential neighborhood, causing the deputy to lose sight of him.

A police helicopter began tracking the speeding car, and the helicopter pilot saw an object being thrown from the car. The pilot directed another deputy to the location of the object, and the deputy located a black backpack on the side of the road. Inside the backpack, the deputy found a plastic bag containing approximately 988.3 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a digital scale, a pouch containing approximately 28.2 grams of THC wax, baggies of various sizes, nine rounds of .380 ammunition, and a paycheck and pay statement made out to Harp.

A fingerprint examiner later determined that Harp’s fingerprints were on the methamphetamine’s packaging. In the meantime, Harp continued to drive but eventually reached a dead end, abandoned the car, and attempted to hide in a nearby wooded area. With the assistance of a police canine and the helicopter, deputies located Harp and arrested him.

When deputies searched the abandoned vehicle, they located approximately 74.5 grams of marijuana and a loaded Taurus .380 pistol. Having previously been convicted of various felony offenses, Harp was prohibited by law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.

On May 27, 2022, Harp pleaded guilty to the charges. As part of his sentence, the court entered an order of forfeiture for a Taurus pistol and assorted ammunition. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.

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