Gainesville man arrested for selling marijuana, methamphetamines, and pills

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lawrence Eugene Richardson Jr., 33, was arrested last night for selling marijuana, methamphetamines, and pills.

At about 9 p.m. on March 6, a Gainesville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a bicycle that was traveling on the wrong side of the road in the 200 block of SE 13th Street.

The officer reported smelling marijuana as he approached the bicycle, and the cyclist, identified as Richardson, reportedly said he did not have a medical marijuana card and there was a little bit of marijuana in his backpack.

A search of the backpack reportedly produced 16 small baggies containing pressed pills, three baggies of improperly packaged marijuana, and five baggies of crystal methamphetamine, along with a digital scale, $85 in cash, and at least 40 empty dime-size baggies. He also reportedly had 40 buprenorphine hydrochloride pills in an improperly labeled container with a sticker identifying the pills as oxycodone.

The pressed pills and crystal substance tested positive for methamphetamine.

Post Miranda, Richardson reportedly said he was on his way home from his sister’s house and saw the backpack on the ground near the park at 400 NE 15th Street. He said he did not know what was in the bag; when the officer asked why he’d said there was marijuana in the bag if he didn’t know what was in the bag, Richardson reportedly said he just assumed there was marijuana because the officer could smell it.

Richardson has been charged with possession of amphetamines with intent to sell and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. He has an extensive juvenile history, three adult felony convictions (two violent), and three adult misdemeanor convictions; he has served one 10-year state prison sentence for armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was released in April 2025. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $150,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.