MIAMI - On Sept. 3, Patrick Ward, 39, of Saint Lucie County, Fla., was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl. The sentence comes after Ward previously pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl on three separate occasions. According to...

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Mario Espino (25, Holiday) has pleaded guilty to five counts of a superseding indictment charging him with kidnapping, possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Espino...

FORT MYERS, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Christi Lynn Bien Amie (31, Alva) to ten (10) years in federal prison for attempting to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Bien Aime entered...

OCALA, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Terrance Maurice Washington (41, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to six (6) counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and fentanyl) with the intent to distribute. Washington faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in...

MIAMI – On July 11, Keyon Lewis, 27, of Indian River County, Fla., was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison, to be followed by four (4) years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl resulting in death. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in...

ORLANDO, Fla . – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that a federal jury has found Joel David Fonseca Flores (42, Orlando) guilty of conspiring to distribute fentanyl that resulted in death. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing...

MIAMI– On June 10, Sudiata Stinson, 47, of Vero Beach, Fla., was sentenced to 188 months in prison for distributing a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sitting in Miami. On February 7, Stinson pleaded guilty to an indictment charging...

TAMPA, Fla. —U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Corey Gaddy, 31, of St. Petersburg, Fla., to 18 years in federal prison for c onspiracy to distribute controlled substances including fentanyl and two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Gaddy was found guilty following a trial on November 3, 2023...

MIAMI—Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division personnel recently hosted an Operation Engage South Florida meeting with community stakeholders at First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to stress the dangers of fentanyl—especially regarding children. Operation Engage South F lorida is an opportunity to keep fentanyl prevention, awareness, and education...

TAMPA – Today, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-led joint task force, designed to bring justice to Tampa’s most violent drug traffickers, announced the results of a 5-month, concentrated law enforcement effort. Deanne Reuter, the DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge (SAC), and Roger Handberg, United States Attorney (USA)...