COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Florida man was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday afternoon on all counts of a three-count indictment charging him with the armed distribution of methamphetamine and heroin.
Constantine Varsamas Varazo, II, 31, of Pensacola, Florida, was convicted of one count possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Sept. 20. The verdict was reached following a two-day trial that began on Sept. 19 before U.S. District Judge Clay Land. Varazo faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine. Co-defendants Robert Louis Perkins, 38, and Taylor F. Perkins, 33, both of Pensacola, previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 18 and Aug. 16, respectively, to possession with intent to distribute heroin. They each face a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing for the defendants is scheduled for Dec. 13.
“The defendant did everything he could to evade justice by dumping multiple bags of dangerous controlled substances and a weapon out of a car window as his co-defendant attempted to flee law enforcement at high speeds; thankfully no one was injured as a result of the defendants’ reckless decisions,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to acknowledge the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 Unit, the Quitman County Sheriff’s Office and the Eufala Police Department for preventing greater harm to citizens and ultimately stopping some of the most addictive and deadly drugs from hitting the streets.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop on the night of March 15, 2020, on a car driven by defendant Robert Perkins; defendant Taylor Perkins was in the passenger seat and Varazo was seated in the back. The traffic stop started on Highway 82 at mile post 17 in Randolph County, Georgia; Perkins initially began to slow down, but increased his speed to over 140 miles per hour. As the vehicle was fleeing, the deputy radioed for assistance as objects were being thrown out of the window of Perkins’ car by Varazo. The chase continued through Quitman County, Georgia, and then into Eufaula, Alabama, where a Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy, with assistance from Eufaula PD, conducted a PIT maneuver, blocking Perkins’ car from escape.
Law enforcement, K-9 Officer Nitro and a citizen ultimately located three bags thrown from the car which contained quantities of suspected ecstasy and marijuana. The suspected ecstasy later tested positive for 4.5 grams of methamphetamine. A fourth bag contained a handgun, 190.47 grams of methamphetamine distributed in seven bags, 27 grams of heroin, a set of scales and Varazo’s cell phone. Varazo paid the Perkins to transport him from Florida to Cordele, Georgia, to purchase drugs.
The case was investigated by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 Unit with assistance from the Eufala, Alabama, Police Department, Quitman County Sheriff’s Office and DEA.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Criminal Chief Shanelle Booker is prosecuting the case.