BONIFAY, Fla. — Two women were arrested June 12 after Holmes County deputies seized more than a pound of methamphetamine, according to the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office.
A deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Danielle Bender, of Atlanta, Georgia. During the stop, deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle.
According to HCSO, deputies found more than 200 grams of methamphetamine concealed inside a box of candy.
Bender was taken into custody. Deputies said she told them she was meeting Donetta Griffin, a Florida Department of Corrections employee from South Florida, at a hotel in Bonifay.
According to HCSO, Bender said the two planned to smuggle the methamphetamine to an inmate at Holmes Correctional Institution during visitation.
HCSO investigators, deputies and an inspector with the Florida Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General responded to the hotel and made contact with Griffin.
Griffin consented to a search of her hotel room. Deputies said they found more than 200 grams of methamphetamine inside her purse.
During questioning, Griffin confirmed the information Bender provided about the plan to deliver the narcotics to an inmate, according to HCSO.
Bender and Griffin were both arrested and charged with trafficking in methamphetamine over 200 grams.
Sheriff John Tate commended the deputies and investigators involved in the case for their work.
“This arrest prevented a significant quantity of illegal narcotics from being introduced into our correctional system and community,” Tate said.
