Pinellas officers lose $60 after undercover buyer vanishes

In a March operation coordinated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, an undercover officer provided $60 to Jessica Straubel Sanchez, identified as “Crooked Jess,” to buy crack cocaine. She walked to a residence, entered the backyard, and did not return within an hour, prompting the officer to deem the delay unreasonable. A subsequent search failed to locate her, and she could not be contacted because she did not own a phone.

Authorities later apprehended the 41-year-old, charging her with theft of the money and possession of drug paraphernalia after fentanyl residue was discovered on foil concealed in her undergarments. The case underscores the challenges of relying on unvetted individuals in covert drug busts.