MIAMI – A South Florida fentanyl dealer whose product killed a man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison today. On May 19, 2021, 21-year-old Peterson Nozinord drove another man, age 27, to a motel in Lantana, Florida. Nozinord checked the man into a room by using Nozinord’s identification...

TAMPA, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Luis Mojica Rojas, 45, of Zephyrhills, Florida, with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering; possession of 400 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent...

MIAMI – The Drug Enforcement Administration will host its 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This bi-annual event offers free, anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. “Disposing of unneeded medications can help...

TAMPA, Fla. –Antonio Nunez III (34, Palmetto) was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Nunez had pleaded guilty on October 31, 2019...

TAMPA, Fla. – A federal jury has convicted Luis Elias Angulo Leones (Ecuador, 29), Jhonis Alexis Landazuri Arboleda (Colombia, 33), and Dilson Daniel Arboleda Quinones (Colombia, 25) of possessing and conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction...

TAMPA, Fla. – On January 11, 2022, U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced Derrick Hutchins (36, Tampa) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Hutchins had pleaded guilty on October 13, 2021. According to court documents, on April 26, 2020, Hutchins...

TAMPA, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Dr. Qing McGaha (55, Tampa) with conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice, as...

OCALA, Fla. – Following eight days of trial in federal court, David Chappell Fey (57, Belleview) and Shari Lynn Gunter (58, Ocklawaha) have each been found guilty as charged for the murder of a government witness. The trial required special accommodations: a separate jury heard evidence for each defendant. In...

FORT MYERS, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Gerald Michael Abraham, 76, of Naples, Florida. to three years in federal prison for dispensing controlled substances (oxycodone and amphetamine) for no legitimate medical purpose. The court also ordered Abraham to forfeit the following items to the United...

MIAMI – A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday to unlawfully distributing opioids at his pain management clinic in Miami, Florida. According to court documents, Habib Geagea Palacios, 40, of Miami, owned a cash-only pain management clinic in Miami, Florida named General Care Center, Inc. At General Care Center, Palacios paid...