FDLE chemist arrested on new charges

Inspectors with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have taken the former FDLE Pensacola crime laboratory chemist, Joseph Graves, back into custody on additional charges of drug trafficking today, according to an arrest report received by Historic City News this afternoon.

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. Graves was released on $290,000 bail while the Department began a review of nearly 2,600 cases that he had handled.

Investigators believe Graves, while processing drug cases, stole prescription pain pills from evidence. Today, Graves was charged with an additional 41 counts of trafficking in illegal drugs. Graves was arrested in Panama City around 3:00 p.m. EST this afternoon and booked into the Bay County Jail.

Bond has been set at $1,025,000.

FDLE began an investigation into missing prescription pain pills from the evidence room at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in January. Investigators determined that each case with missing drugs had been analyzed by Graves; he was relieved of duty on January 31st.

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