Joshua Bashore Sentenced to Seven Years in State Prison Following Two Major Drug Trafficking Convictions

KEY WEST, FL – A Monroe County man has been sentenced to seven years in state prison following convictions in two separate drug trafficking cases that involved trafficking-level quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Joshua Bayshore Bashore, 38, was adjudicated guilty on July 17, 2025, after entering no contest pleas before Circuit Judge Mark Wilson. Each charge carried its own prison term, but Judge Wilson ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in a total of seven years behind bars. Bashore was also sentenced to eleven years of probation and ordered to pay more than $105,000 in fines and court-related costs.

The first case dates back to April 10, 2023, when detectives with the Key West Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit, working in partnership with the DEA, conducted a planned narcotics interdiction operation on North Roosevelt Boulevard. A vehicle registered to Bashore was stopped, and a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered a significant amount of fentanyl.

After being read his Miranda rights, Bashore initially agreed to speak with officers. He stated that he and the driver had just returned from Miami but claimed not to know anything about the drugs found in the vehicle. When pressed further, he contradicted himself by saying everything in the vehicle was his. Bashore ultimately declined to answer any additional questions. He was adjudicated guilty of trafficking in fentanyl and sentenced to seven years in state prison. Judge Wilson also imposed a $50,000 fine and $2,898 in court costs.

The second case occurred nearly two years later, on February 24, 2025, when officers responded to a trespassing complaint at a storage facility on Catherine Street. There, they found Bashore unlawfully living inside a storage unit that he shared with another individual. Officers immediately observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. A lawful search revealed methamphetamine in a trafficking quantity, additional fentanyl, and more paraphernalia.

Unlike in the earlier case, Bashore was cooperative and forthcoming with officers. He explained that he and his companion had been staying in the unit after losing their housing and admitted that the drugs belonged to him. He was adjudicated guilty of trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Wilson sentenced him to seven years on the trafficking charge, five years on the possession charge, and one year on the paraphernalia charge—all to run concurrently. He was again fined $50,000 and ordered to pay $2,898 in court costs.

In total, Bashore will serve seven years in Florida State Prison, pay $100,000 in fines, and cover $5,796 in court-related costs and fees. Upon release, he will be on probation for eleven years with drug offender conditions.

“This is a serious case involving two of the deadliest drugs on the streets—fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “Mr. Bashore repeatedly chose to traffic in substances that ruin lives and endanger the safety of our community. Thanks to the hard work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, he’s finally being held accountable. This sentence should serve as a reminder that we will not tolerate the spread of poison in Monroe County.”

Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield added, “Joshua Bashore’s criminal activity spanned multiple years and involved dangerous, high-volume narcotics. Assistant State Attorney Carter Reeves led the prosecution of both cases with a strong command of the facts, steady judgment, and deep commitment to public safety. His work helped ensure these cases were handled thoroughly and justly. We’re grateful to the Key West Police Department and DEA for their collaboration and tireless efforts.”

The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to all law enforcement agencies and personnel who contributed to both investigations.

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