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.
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.
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