Florida Man Tries To Sell Magic Mushrooms From His Uber To Narcotics Officers Conference Attendees
 |
| Psilocybin mushrooms. Credit: Walton County Sheriff's Office |
WALTON COUNTY, Florida - A Florida man is facing felony drug charges after allegedly trying to sell mushrooms and LSD from his Uber to undercover narcotics investigators visiting Walton County for a conference.
In August 2023, Walton County held the Florida Narcotics Officers’ Association Annual Conference in Miramar Beach, Florida.
While visiting for the conference, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigators requested an Uber to take them to dinner.
Investigators say that the Uber, driven by John Alcott, 52, of Crestview, Florida, smelled of marijuana when the CCSO detectives got in the vehicle.
When they began chatting with Alcott, he allegedly told them he had Psilocybin mushrooms for sale and opened his glove compartment revealing a large bag of mushrooms to which the detectives declined.
 |
| Magic mushrooms. Credit: Walton County Sheriff's Office |
The CCSO investigators contacted Walton County Sheriff’s Office VICE/Narcotics Investigators who were also attending the conference.
A plan was developed to conduct an undercover purchase from the Florida man the following day.
During the buy, Alcott allegedly sold the CCSO investigators 134 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms, 10 Psilocybin mushroom capsules, and 12 doses of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) for $1,000.
 |
| Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD). Credit: Walton County Sheriff's Office |
During the purchase, Alcott told detectives he would be willing to mail a supply as well.
In cooperation with WCSO, the CCSO detectives remained in contact with Alcott over the next several months.
An investigation revealed Alcott’s Uber services took him from Destin to Panama City Beach, Florida.
They told Alcott they would be coming back to the Miramar Beach area for a vacation in February and would want to purchase more mushrooms and LSD.
On February 21st Walton County Sheriff’s Office VICE/Narcotics Investigators had the undercover CCSO detective reach out to Alcott to tell him they were in the area and organized a buy for more than a quarter pound of mushrooms and 200 doses of LSD in exchange for $5,000.
WCSO Narcotics Investigators, Investigators with the Crestview Police Department, and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office set up surveillance on Alcott’s residence in Crestview, Florida.
Alcott was observed leaving his residence en route to allegedly meet the undercover CCSO detective.
When Alcott neared the meeting location, a Walton County Sheriff’s Office Deputy conducted a traffic stop. Alcott was placed under arrest for warrants stemming from the first undercover purchase.
 |
| John Alcott. Credit: Walton County Sheriff's Office |
WCSO K9 “Kenny” was called in to assist and alerted on the vehicle. A search of Alcott’s car resulted in the recovery of the mushrooms and LSD intended for sale to the undercover detective.
“While these types of cases aren’t the primary focus of our VICE/Narcotics investigations, this one kind of came to us,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson.
“He obviously makes it a habit to sell while driving an Uber and that’s pretty alarming considering how teenagers and young adults frequently use driving services in the area.”
Alcott was arrested and booked into the Walton County Jail on two counts of selling a hallucinogen (mushrooms and LSD), trafficking in LSD, possession of a hallucinogen with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of using a two-way communication device in the commission of a felony.
 |
| John Alcott. Credit: Walton County Sheriff's Office |
The Florida man was released on a $15,000 bond the following day
