Palmetto Drug Dealer Sentenced To Life In Prison
MIAMI, FL. - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, Robert E. O’Neill, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announced today that U.S. District Judge William J. Castagna sentenced Stanley (47, Palmetto) to life in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and attempting to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The mandatory life sentence was imposed based on the fact that Collins had multiple prior felony drug convictions. The court also ordered Collins to forfeit $149,885 in U.S. Currency.
According to court documents, testimony and other evidence presented at trial, Collins was involved in the regular receipt and distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine in Palmetto from at least as early as 2008, up until his arrest in January 2012. On January 6, 2012, Collins attempted to purchase cocaine from a confidential informant and fled from the police in an attempt to evade arrest. Incident to his arrest, law enforcement authorities seized $149,885 in U.S. Currency that Collins had intended to use to purchase five kilograms of cocaine. Collins was also involved in the distribution of crack cocaine, and the court determined that he possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. On April 27, 2012, Collins was found guilty following a jury trial.
This case was investigated by the DEA Tampa District Office, the Bradenton Police Department, and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
