FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Chapman
Phone: (904) 255-3004
Cell: (904) 524-6626
ChapmanD@coj.net
March 5, 2024
DUVAL COUNTY JURY FINDS GRAVES GUILTY OF SELLING COCAINE
State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Anthony Graves guilty of the Sale, Manufacture, or Delivery of a Controlled Substance; two counts of Sale, Manufacture, or Delivery of Cocaine; and Possession of Cocaine. With the verdict, Graves faces up to 30 years in Florida State Prison as a Habitual Felony Offender. The Honorable Jonathan Sacks will sentence Graves at a later date.
On June 17, 2022, a covert officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was near an Arlington liquor store when Graves approached him asking what he was looking for. Graves sold what he thought was fentanyl to the undercover officer for $20. The officer handed him JSO funds, and Graves gave the officer his phone number for future sales. This interaction was audio and video recorded. About a month later on July 21, 2022, the undercover officer was in the same location when Graves saw him and waved him over. Graves sold the officer $20 worth of crack cocaine, and the officer handed him JSO funds. A similar transaction occurred again on Sept. 26, 2022, which was also recorded. On Oct. 7, 2022, officers made contact with Graves and placed him under arrest. During his arrest, officers found cocaine in his pocket.
The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Robert Reeder and Jackie Blair.