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)...

TAMPA, F la. – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday sentenced Raul Carbajal (34, Plant City) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine . Carbajal entered a guilty plea on November 21, 2023 . According...

ORLANDO, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger sentenced E'Chavion Semaj Flewellen (24, Cocoa) to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison for distribution of 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Flewellen entered a guilty plea on January 4...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla . – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard sentenced Peterson Fils-Aime (37, Orange Park) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing over 5 kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute it. Fils-Aime entered a guilty plea on December 12, 2023. According to court records, Fils-Aime was...

TAMPA, Fla . – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Jesus Andres Villapudua, a/k/a “Chik” (35, San Luis, Arizona), and Noel Alfredo Garcia, (34, Las Vegas, Nevada) with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams...

TAMPA, F la. – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Efrain Rivera Matos (45, Tampa) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl charges . Rivera Matos pleaded guilty on December 8, 2023 . According to court documents, on July 27, 2022...

ORLANDO, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Ernesto Hidalgo (30, Orlando) to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Hidalgo entered a guilty plea on September 21, 2023. According to court documents, over the course of...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla . – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Alyssa Avery (32, Green Cove Springs) to six years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine base, and cocaine. Avery entered a guilty plea on October 19, 2023. According to court documents...

TAMPA, F la. – U.S. District Judge Katherine Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Javontah Harris, a/k/a “Gut,” (21, St. Petersburg) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute...

TAMPA, F la. – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Luis Irizarry-Santiago, a/k/a “Bullet” (33, Spring Hill), to eight years and four months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and cocaine. Irizarry-Santiago was also ordered to forfeit $28,889 in cash that was seized from his...