PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Five defendants were sentenced today on drug and firearm-related crimes, as well as conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.  The sentences were announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The defendants and sentences are as follows:

• Thomas Zachary Breeding, 33, of Panama City, Florida, 72 months in prison;
• Benjamin Bailey McGraw, 37, of Smyrna, Georgia, 180 months;
• Jeremy Patrick Hubbard, 32, of Panama City Beach, Florida, 96 months;
• Richard Kenneth Helms Jr., 43, of Panama City Beach, 48 months; and
• Jessica Renee Ashbaker, 32, of Panama City Beach, 12 months.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, the defendants pled guilty to the following charges:

• Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon: Breeding and Hubbard;
• Possession with intent to distribute the controlled substance alprazolam: McGraw;
• Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: McGraw and Hubbard; and
• Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of Cocaine: Helms and Ashbaker.

In early June 2016, Breeding acquired approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine and then divided it among himself, Helms, Ashbaker, and McGraw to sell.  On June 25, 2016, law enforcement officers stopped Breeding’s vehicle and arrested him after discovering cocaine and a firearm in his vehicle.  On June 29, McGraw and Hubbard planned to obtain an additional 5 kilograms of cocaine from Breeding in Panama City Beach.  When Hubbard arrived at the scheduled meeting place, he possessed approximately $20,000 in cash and a loaded firearm in his vehicle.  He was arrested.  While Hubbard went to meet Breeding, McGraw waited at a nearby motel room.  McGraw was arrested at the motel.  In the motel room, law enforcement officers seized a cocaine press, approximately 800 alprazolam tablets, a loaded firearm, and drug paraphernalia.  On July 8, law enforcement officers seized approximately 2 and 1/2 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $33,000 in cash from Helms’s and Ashbaker’s residence.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Panama City Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Edwin Knight prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.