United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ORLANDO, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron sentenced Michael Jayson Scarlett (44, Moreno Valley, CA) to five years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. The court also ordered Scarlett to forfeit his cellphone, which was used to commit the offenses. Scarlett entered a guilty plea on August 31, 2023.         

According to court documents, on March 5, 2023, Scarlett’s checked bag was searched during an interdiction operation at the Orlando International Airport. Inside, agents located several packages of vacuum-sealed methamphetamine. The packages were later weighed and analyzed by a forensic chemist at the DEA lab and found to contain more than 16 kilograms of methamphetamine. Further investigation revealed that Scarlett had brought narcotics from California to Florida on multiple occasions. He was paid for transporting the narcotics each time.         

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community, please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA online Tip Line at Submit a Tip | DEA.gov.  Concerns about prescription drug abuse or diversion can be reported to the DEA through this link: RX Abuse Online Reporting (usdoj.gov).

The DEA encourages parents, teachers, care givers, guardians, and children to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com , www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov.

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