Duval County Jury Finds Goins Guilty of Trafficking Drugs

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Richard Goins guilty of two counts of Trafficking in Substituted Cathinones; three counts of Sale, Manufacture, or Deliver a Controlled Substance; and Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device. With the verdict, Goins could face up to life in Florida State Prison if deemed a Habitual Felony Offender. The Honorable London Kite will sentence Goins at a later date.

On May 15, 2023, an undercover officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was investigating drug trafficking on Airport Road. Goins, who goes by “Green Eyes” on the streets, sold the undercover officer MDMA for $40. The transaction was audio and video recorded. Goins also gave the undercover officer his number for future sales. The next day, Goins texted the undercover officer and agreed to sell him $100 of MDMA. They met off Airport Road and the transaction was once again recorded. Goins agreed to sell the undercover officer MDMA at a later time and did so again on June 3, June 13, and July 1, when he was taken into custody. Goins’ last two sales were for trafficking amounts of substituted cathinones, commonly known as bath salts. 

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Crystal Ganpath-Freed and Stephanie Burke.