St. Petersburg couple get prison in pot conspiracy

TAMPA -- A St. Petersburg couple was sentenced to federal prison today on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Keith Pritchett, 30, was sentenced to 9 years and 3 months in prison, while Monique Pruitt, 29, received 3 years and 10 months in prison for her role.

Prosecutors said that from sometime in 2003 until February 2008, Pritchett participated with unnamed co-conspirators to distribute marijuana in the St. Petersburg area and elsewhere. Authorities said he used tractor trailer trucks to ship multi-kilogram quantities of the drug from Arizona to St. Petersburg.

Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew enhanced Pruitt's punishment for placing her son's life in danger at the time law enforcement executed a search warrant at home.

Agents went to 4225 Cortez Way South in St. Petersburg on Feb. 15 to execute a search. When Pruitt learned that law enforcement was coming, prosecutors said, she placed her 10-year-old son and two duffel bags filled with marijuana into her vehicle and tried to flee.

Authorities later stopped her.

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer