Florida Department of Law Enforcement Rearrests Joseph Graves for 41 Additional Counts of Drug Trafficking

WTVY-TV, wtvy.com

Pensacola, FL



PENSACOLA, Fla. – Inspectors with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement rearrested former FDLE Pensacola crime laboratory chemist Joseph Graves on additional charges of drug trafficking Wednesday.

Investigators believe Graves, while processing drug cases, stole prescription pain pills from evidence. Graves was charged with an additional 41 counts of trafficking in illegal drugs.

Graves was originally arrested on February 4, 2014 on charges of grand theft, 12 counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and nine counts of trafficking in illegal drugs.

In January, in conjunction with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and State Attorney William Eddins’ Office, FDLE began an investigation into missing prescription pain pills from the evidence room at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators determined that each case with missing drugs had been analyzed by Graves. Graves was relieved of duty on Jan. 31.

Graves was arrested in Panama City around 3 p.m. EST this afternoon and booked into the Bay County Jail. Bond is set at $1.025 million.

The Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit William Eddins will prosecute this case.

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