United States Drug Enforcement Administration

TAMPA, Fla. – Eleven members of a drug trafficking organization have pled guilty to charges stemming from conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, 400 hundred grams of fentanyl, and 100 grams of a fentanyl analogue. This distribution resulted in four deaths and in serious bodily injury to a victim. The defendants face penalties from 10 years to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The plea agreements also require certain individuals to make restitution to the families of the victims. 

The members of the drug trafficking organization include:

On Jan. 5, 2018, in a related case, Antonorio Nelson, a/k/a “Nep,” (29, Lakeland) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute furanyl fentanyl resulting in death. He faces a minimum mandatory of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

According to the plea agreements, the defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization that conspired to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues, and operated in and around Lakeland. As part of the conspiracy, Stevens and Pearson received controlled substances via packages shipped from New Jersey. They then distributed the drugs, packaged in individual user amounts referred to as “bindles,” to Lakeland dealers. The organization utilized three primary premises for the storage and distribution of controlled substances, including a car wash, a residence and an apartment complex.     

Law enforcement identified several overdoses in Polk County between February and April 2017, that were linked to the organization. Specifically, investigators identified four victims who had died from ingesting furanyl fentanyl and carfentanil sold by members of the DTO. One victim was medically resuscitated after a carfentanil overdose.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized thousands of individual bindles of heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues, three firearms, and more than $10,000 in cash.          

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Tampa District Office, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakeland Police Department, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

More information about this case can be found at http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov or https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov.