United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MIAMI - Following a four-day trial, a federal jury in West Palm Beach, Florida, convicted Kevin Raphael Bully of narcotics trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Division and Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, made the announcement. 

This case stemmed from an investigation into the importation of Alpha-(“α-PVP”), aka “Flakka,” from China into the United States.  In March of 2015, as a part of an ongoing investigation regarding the illegal drug trafficking of synthetic cathinones, specifically Flakka, DEA agents received information about suspected narcotics packages being delivered to Palm Beach County.  DEA agents in London, England received information from the British authorities regarding multiple packages that were intercepted coming from a chemical company in Hong Kong, China.  The Chinese based chemical company had been utilizing a shipping company to transport chemicals to buyers in the United States.  The British authorities found approximately seven packages that contained a white crystallized substance which tested positive for the presence of α-PVP.  DEA agents in London provided West Palm Beach agents with the packages’ address information and forwarded the deliveries.  The local agents, including a law enforcement officer dressed as a DHL employee, delivered a package to the listed address.  Kevin Raphael Bully, 26, of Palm Beach County, answered the door of the identified address and took possession of the package upon delivery. 

During the course of the investigation, Bully’s cell phone was found to contain text messages discussing the importation and receipt of packages containing Flakka.  In July of 2015, Bully was found at a hotel in Boca Raton, Florida, in possession of over 50 grams of heroin, 1,600 tablets of Zanax, a digital scale and packaging used for the distribution of narcotics.       

At trial, Bully was found guilty of seven of the eight counts charged in a superseding indictment, to wit: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute α-PVP, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846;  attempted possession with intent to distribute α-PVP, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1);  conspiracy to import α-PVP, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 963;  attempting to import α-PVP, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 963;  possession with intent to distribute heroin and Zanax, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  Bully was found not guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a violent or drug-trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). 

Bully faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the drug importation and trafficking counts.  He also faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the firearm offense.

DEA Special Agent in Charge A.D. Wright stated, “The presence of Flakka in our communities is extremely dangerous.  Because of the violent and uncontrollable effects it has when ingested, it threatens everyone’s safety and highly jeopardizes the community’s well-being.  DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue its commitment to the fight against synthetic drugs, particularly Flakka, by identifying and investigating its trafficking and distribution throughout the state of Florida.”