Orange County Jury Convicts Man on Fentanyl Trafficking Charges
Drug trafficking carries some of the harshest criminal penalties under Florida law. “Trafficking” itself is broadly defined to include any act involving the sale, purchase, manufacture, delivery, or transport of drugs into Florida, as well as conspiring with others to do so. The actual penalty for drug trafficking generally depends on the quantity of drugs involved–and in most cases, Florida law imposes mandatory minimum sentences.
25 Years for 28 Grams of Fentanyl
For example, a jury here in Orange County recently convicted a man charged with trafficking in fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is lawfully used by doctors to treat patients with severe pain, but which is also highly addictive and thus carries enormous value as a street drug. Federal and state law forbids the possession or distribution of fentanyl outside of the health care system.
In this case, the Orlando Police Department received a tip from a confidential source that the defendant in this case operated an illegal fentanyl distribution scheme from his home. Based on this information, officers decided to conduct two “undercover buys” from the defendant. This led to the police obtaining a search warrant for the defendant’s house.
The search uncovered a quantity of fentanyl with an “estimated street value of $39,000,” according to a press release from the State Attorney’s office for Orange and Osceola Counties. This was enough fentanyl to provide roughly 4,000 individual doses.
The case proceeded to a trial, where the jury heard five days of testimony and other evidence. The jury ultimately found the defendant guilty of trafficking in 28 grams or more of fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic in more than 200 grams of methamphetamines, and two counts of trafficking in more than 200 grams of methamphetamines.
Under Florida drug laws, a defendant convicted of trafficking in 28 grams or more of fentanyl faces a mandatory minimum jail term of 25 years and a fine of $500,000. The trial judge will determine the defendant’s exact sentence at a December 2024 hearing.
Contact an Orlando Drug Trafficking Lawyer Today
Most drug trafficking convictions carry some sort of minimum sentence in Florida, ranging from 3 years to 25 years. It is important to understand these are minimums, however, and trial judges can often impose far harsher sentences–up to and including life in prison depending on the case and the amount of illegal drugs involved.
At the same time, drug trafficking charges are not meant to deal with cases of simple possession by an individual who only possesses and consumes a controlled substance for personal use. Many such users often get caught up in larger drug trafficking investigations, often because they are seen as “leverage” that can be used to nab the real traffickers involved.
So if you have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking or drug conspiracy, you need to take the matter seriously. Your first step should be to speak with a qualified Orlando drug trafficking lawyer. Call the Joshi Law Firm, PA, today at 844-GO-JOSHI or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.
Source:
sao9th.com/major-fentanyl-trafficker-convicted-facing-25-year-sentence/
