Steven Russell Statham II, Methamphetamine Distribution, Florida 2023

LAKE CITY, FL – Steven Russell Statham II, 27, of Lake City, Florida, is headed to federal prison for nearly six years after admitting to his role in a methamphetamine distribution ring. U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis sentenced Statham to 5 years and 10 months on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, following a guilty plea entered on September 6, 2022.

The case unraveled after a confidential source approached the DEA, claiming to have purchased a significant amount of crystal meth from Statham on four separate occasions. Each transaction involved three ounces – approximately 84 grams – of the highly addictive drug. The source also alleged witnessing Statham peddling methamphetamine to other individuals, painting a picture of a consistent and active dealer.

Undercover agents quickly moved to verify the claims. On September 15, 2021, the confidential source and an undercover detective met with Statham in Lake City. The pair accompanied Statham to meet his supplier, handing over cash in exchange for 85.11 grams of pure methamphetamine, which Statham then delivered to the detective. Just two weeks later, on September 29, 2021, a similar operation yielded an even larger haul: 167.73 grams of pure methamphetamine.

The investigation didn’t stop at buy-bust operations. On November 18, 2021, a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office sergeant pulled Statham over for driving a vehicle with mismatched license plates. A canine unit immediately alerted to the presence of narcotics, leading officers to discover a bag containing approximately 21.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside the car. The traffic stop solidified the mounting evidence against Statham.

The bust was the result of a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Drug Task Force, North Star Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The investigation underscores the ongoing battle against methamphetamine distribution in North Florida.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. Statham’s nearly six-year sentence sends a clear message: those who profit from the misery caused by methamphetamine will face serious federal consequences. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida continues to prioritize drug trafficking cases, aiming to disrupt supply chains and protect communities.

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