Jury Convicts Palm Bay Man Of Drug Trafficking And Firearm Offenses
MIAMI - A federal jury yesterday found John Dwayne (39, Palm Bay) guilty of possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute it, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug-trafficking crime. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. The sentencing hearing is set for June 23, 2016. Riley was indicted on November 18, 2015.
According to evidence presented at trial, on June 17, 2015, DEA agents and probation officers with the Florida Department of Corrections went to Riley’s house in response to an anonymous tip that he was dealing drugs. The officers observed powder cocaine inside a car in Riley’s garage, and they also found approximately one kilogram of individually packaged powder cocaine in one of Riley’s kitchen cabinets. During the execution of a search warrant later that evening, officers from the Palm Bay Police Department discovered an additional five grams of individually packaged heroin in another kitchen cabinet, and 59 grams of individually packaged crack cocaine in the car. Riley also had several items of drug paraphernalia, and the pans in his kitchen sink contained fresh crack cocaine residue. Officers found $1,000 in cash in Riley’s pocket, and recovered a loaded handgun where Riley had been seated on his living room sofa.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Palm Bay Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections.
