The Harsh Reality of Fentanyl Trafficking in Florida
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical purposes such as pain relief and anesthesia. It is highly potent, up to 100 times stronger than morphine. However, while it was initially purposed for legitimate medical uses, fentanyl is currently illicitly distributed in our communities, often in fentanyl-laced prescription pills, which has led to a surge in overdose deaths of unsuspecting victims. Given the deadly effects of fentanyl, Florida’s legal system has in place stringent measures and harsh penalties to combat the growing crisis. Those convicted of fentanyl trafficking can face decades, or even life, in prison, especially if the offense involves large quantities or leads to fatal overdoses.
Real Life Case Examples
In a recent case, four South Florida residents were sentenced to federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and meth. In one case, Gito St Fort, a 35-year-old career criminal from West Palm Beach, was on January 16, 2025, sentenced to 320 months in federal prison after selling fentanyl to a victim in December 2023. Unfortunately, the victim died from an overdose while visiting his parents.
On the previous day, January 15, Anwar Hazzi,36, from Sunny Isles Beach, received a 200-month sentence for selling more than 900 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of meth between June 2023 and May 2024. Hazzi concealed fentanyl within counterfeit prescription pills resembling oxycodone and meth in pills resembling Adderall. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute.
On the same day, a case involving Samantha Yi and her boyfriend, Darnell Julio Mendez, saw the two being sentenced to 288 and 360 months, respectively, after selling fentanyl to the mother of a 10-month-old child who fatally overdosed. Yi and Mendez pleaded guilty to the distribution of fentanyl, resulting in death.
In a separate case, Joseph Marion, 41, of St. Petersburg, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in distributing fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, which resulted in serious bodily injury. According to evidence and testimony presented during the trial and sentencing, Marion imported fentanyl from China and sold massive quantities to multiple street dealers who distributed the drug to users. During the trial, one of his accomplices testified that she bought a whopping 40 -100 bags of fentanyl from Marion every day for several years. This was approximately 7.1 kilos to 17.8 kilos of fentanyl, enough to cause over 70,000 fatalities, and this was just to one street dealer. In November 2019, a woman in Marion’s apartment mistakenly snorted his fentanyl, thinking it was heroin, and almost died. Luckily, paramedics arrived at the scene just in time to revive her, but she ended up being hospitalized for several days after the incident.
Florida’s Tough Stance on Fentanyl Trafficking
Fentanyl trafficking in Florida can lead to severe mandatory minimum penalties, including the following:
- Trafficking 4 grams but less than 14 grams of fentanyl can result in a minimum of 7 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
- Trafficking 14 grams but less than 28 grams carries a minimum of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
- Amounts exceeding 28 grams can lead to a minimum of 25 years and a $500,000 fine.
Contact an Orlando Fentanyl Trafficking Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one is facing charges related to fentanyl trafficking or other controlled substances in Orlando, contact our experienced Orlando fentanyl trafficking lawyer at Joshi Law Firm, PA, as soon as possible to discuss your case.
Source:
justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/four-people-sentenced-prison-distributing-fentanyl
