Not Just the Kingpins: How Street-Level Fentanyl Dealers Are Facing Harsh Consequences

When people think about drug trafficking charges, they often think about cartel leaders and major traffickers. However, in Florida, these are not the only targets in drug trafficking cases. Law enforcement officers go after everyone and anyone involved in the drug distribution chain, even in the “smallest” way, including mid-level distributors and street-level dealers. This is especially true in fentanyl cases because of the drug’s high potency and the overwhelming number of overdose deaths linked to it. One counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl can result in death. That is why law enforcement officers go after everyone, including everyday dealers who repackage and redistribute these substances on the streets. And often, the penalties for a conviction are almost as harsh as those handed down to high-level traffickers. A recent case illustrates just how harsh these consequences can be.

Real Case Example

In this case, an Orlando, FL, man, Rosa Rodriguez, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and money laundering. A U.S. District Judge sentenced him to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison. But what was Rosa’s role in the distribution chain? Rosa was a mid-level distributor, reselling fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills obtained from higher-level co-defendants.

Co-defendants Jayson and Jovan received shipments of thousands of pills that were pressed to look like pharmaceuticals but contained fentanyl (“fenta-pills”). Jayson and another co-defendant, Karen, packaged the pills into individual pill bags and delivered them to the streets. The two then distributed the bags to mid-level distributors like Rosa for resale.

Rosa, a U.S. Postal Service employee, sold the pills from the parking lot of his workplace. Over the course of 20 months, he earned over $300,000, in addition to his USPS salary and VA disability benefits, proceeds he used to buy luxury cars. The federal government seized all the vehicles. While Rosa was simply distributing pills supplied to him by others and did not possess kilos of fentanyl, it did not protect him from prosecution and facing harsh consequences.

Rosa’s co-defendants, who ran the other operations, were also sentenced. They received between 5 and 15 years in federal prison.

Why are Mid-Level Distributors Getting Into Trouble?

Some people wrongly assume that the amount of fentanyl involved must be large for someone to face trafficking charges. In Florida, even small amounts can result in trafficking charges. Under Florida law, the threshold for fentanyl trafficking is met when someone possesses at least 4 grams of fentanyl or any fentanyl derivative.

Here are other crucial facts that many dealers do not understand;

• The total weight of the substance, not just the amount of fentanyl in it, is what is used to determine trafficking thresholds.
• Even if the substance is diluted, possessing 4 grams or more of it triggers minimum sentences.
• Buying expensive cars or other assets with drug proceeds can result in money laundering charges.

When it comes to fentanyl cases, federal and Florida laws do not require that a person be the “kingpin” to face harsh consequences. Simply possessing, repackaging, or reselling “fenta-pills” can result in trafficking charges. For those charged, it is crucial to seek the help of a skilled criminal defense attorney immediately.

Contact an Orlando Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are facing fentanyl trafficking charges, contact our experienced Orlando drug trafficking lawyer at Joshi Law Firm, PA, for legal help.

Source:

justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/orlando-us-postal-employee-sentenced-fenta-pill-conspiracy