USF Student’s Death Fuels Fentanyl Trafficking Indictment

TAMPA, FL – A University of South Florida student is dead, and four Tampa men are facing potentially life-altering consequences. United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg today announced the unsealing of a federal indictment charging Miguel Cintron (36, Tampa), Marquise Trant (35, Tampa), David Chudhabuddhi (37, Tampa), and Darrius Gustafson (20, Tampa) with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, resulting in death. The indictment alleges the quartet supplied the lethal dose that killed Victim-1 on February 16, 2024.

But the alleged crimes didn’t stop there. According to court documents, even after the fatal overdose, Cintron, Trant, Chudhabuddhi, and Gustafson continued to peddle fentanyl – not to students, but to undercover deputies and detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. This brazen disregard for human life is now a central component of the federal case against them. All four defendants are also charged with distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

The investigation took a significant turn on April 10, 2024, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence of Miguel Cintron. What they found wasn’t just fentanyl. Authorities seized over 7 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of black tar heroin, 1 kilogram of heroin, 1,200 pressed pills containing fentanyl, and a staggering $200,000 in cash. The search also revealed firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition, leading to an additional charge for Cintron – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The scale of the operation suggests a well-established drug trafficking network operating right under the noses of the Tampa community. While the death of the USF student brought the operation to light, the ongoing investigation reveals a wider web of illegal activity. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office played a key role in connecting the fentanyl to the victim, providing crucial evidence for the indictment. The University of South Florida Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also contributed to the investigation.

If convicted on all counts, each of the four defendants faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years in federal prison, with the potential for life behind bars. The United States government is also seeking to seize all assets traceable to the proceeds of their alleged criminal enterprise. All four defendants have been arrested and are currently being held pending trial. They made their initial appearances in federal court, where they were ordered detained.

It’s critical to remember that an indictment is simply a formal accusation. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich is leading the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of fentanyl trafficking and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to dismantle these dangerous operations. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available.