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The Fentanyl Crisis

Two Apopka residents sentenced to federal prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

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According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for the pain management treatment of cancer patients and applied in a patch on the skin. Because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also diverted for abuse. Fentanyl is added to heroin to increase its potency or be disguised as highly potent heroin. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths. Clandestinely-produced fentanyl is primarily manufactured in Mexico.

Its users can experience intense, short-term highs, temporary feelings of euphoria, slowed respiration and reduced blood pressure, nausea, fainting, seizures, and death.
 
Similar to other opioid analgesics, fentanyl produces effects such as relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, sedation, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, pupillary constriction, and respiratory depression.
 
From 2011 through 2021, both fatal overdoses associated with abuse of clandestinely produced fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and law enforcement encounters increased markedly.

According to the CDC, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, excluding methadone, were involved in roughly 2,600 drug overdose deaths each year in 2011 and 2012, but from 2013 through 2021, the number of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, excluding methadone increased dramatically each year, to more than 68,000 in 2021. This category's total number of overdose deaths was greater than 258,000 from 2013 through 2021. These overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids are primarily driven by illicitly manufactured fentanyl, including fentanyl analogs. Consistent with overdose death data, the trafficking, distribution, and abuse of illicitly produced fentanyl and fentanyl analogs positively correlates with the associated dramatic increase in overdose fatalities.

But in Apopka, there are two fewer fentanyl dealers to distribute the lethal substance.

U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza sentenced Luis Omar Rosa Cotto (32, Orlando), Alejandro Acevedo Luna (34, Apopka), and Juan Carlos Garcia (38, Apopka) to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, Acevedo Luna and Garcia conspired to drive to a gas station in Apopka and sell more than a kilogram of fentanyl for $33,000. Garcia drove the vehicle and brought a loaded handgun with him, and Acevedo Luna brought the drugs and set up the deal. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information about the drug transaction and worked with the Apopka Police Department to conduct a traffic stop. After a search, the loaded handgun was recovered from the center console of the vehicle, and the package of drugs was located in the backseat.

Both men were arrested without incident.

On the same day, Rosa Cotto was determined to be the source of the fentanyl, and the DEA set up a controlled purchase to buy an additional half kilogram of fentanyl. Rosa Cotto arrived at the buy location with the drugs and was arrested. A bag containing more than half a kilogram of fentanyl was found inside his vehicle. All of the drugs were tested by the DEA laboratory and determined to be p-Fluorofentanyl, which is an analogue of fentanyl and is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance.

The DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Apopka Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys John M. Gardella and Courtney Richardson-Jones prosecuted it.

Apopka Police Chief Mike McKinley was pleased with the sentences and thankful to work with the DEA and US Attorney's Office.

“This case is an illustration of the great working relationship we have with our Federal partners. Through our collaborative efforts, we were able to remove a large amount of fentanyl from the streets of Orange County and remove these individuals from our community. I want to thank our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office for aggressively prosecuting those involved in trafficking this dangerous drug.  Fentanyl overdoses continue to rise, and we must continue to work with our local, State, and Federal partners to remove it from our streets to keep our community safe.”

Luna was sentenced to 15 years, while Garcia was sentenced to 10 years. According to the report, both men will serve their time in federal prison.

Apopka Police Department, Drug Enforcement Agency, US Attorneys Office, Fentanyl, Drug Charges, Apopka, Homeland Security, Department of Justice

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