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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2005

Port St. Lucie Woman Ordered Detained on Charges of Running a Methamphetamine Lab

JUL 27 -- Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division and R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announced that defendant, Melissa Marie Hoffpauir, was ordered detained pending trial on charges of running a methamphetamine lab.

Hoffpauir, was indicted by the federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, on July 8, 2005, and charged with attempted manufacture of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (Count 1), possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine (Count 2), possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (Count 3), and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug-related felony (Counts 4 and 5). If convicted on all counts, Hoffpauir faces a total mandatory minimum sentence of thirty-five (35) years’ imprisonment, a maximum potential sentence of forty (40) years’ imprisonment, and fines totaling up to $5 million.

At a pre-trial detention hearing, Hoffpauir was found to be a danger to the community and ordered to be detained pending trial. According to in-court statements by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim McAdams, evidence seized during a search warrant of Hoffpauir's Port St. Lucie residence netted two handguns, one of which was loaded, and several items that are consistent with the presence of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory. Also found in the residence were suspected methamphetamine and cocaine.