Florida man sentenced to 30 years in prison after 20-Minute jury deliberation in Marion County

Credit: Marion County Sheriff's Office


A 46-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, following a swift 20-minute jury deliberation.

Anthony Earl Crim Jr. was found guilty on Tuesday and will serve his 30-year sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections.

"Once again, a major drug trafficker has been removed from our streets thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners," said Walter Forgie, Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney. "And with a 30-year sentence, this defendant's chance at reoffending is slim to none."

Crim’s arrest occurred in January when the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), with assistance from the Ocala Police Department SWAT team, executed a narcotics search warrant at a residence on SW 5th Street in Ocala. 

Investigators had identified the location as a hub for drug sales.

During the search, officers detained Crim and another individual inside the home. 

Authorities observed that Crim's hands were wet, which led to the discovery of narcotics that had been soaked in water and hidden in various locations throughout the kitchen and hallway. 

Bags of drugs were also recovered from the bathroom, including one found in the toilet bowl. 

Additional trafficking quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine were found on a boat parked on the property.

Earlier this year, Crim was also convicted of animal cruelty after malnourished dogs were discovered on the property during the search.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Wynn Vickers.

The Source: The information in this article comes from the office of Assistant State Attorney Wynn Vickers.

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