Antoine King, Counterfeit Xanax Pills Trafficking, California 2016

Counterfeit Xanax Pills Trafficking Plagues California Streets

In a shocking turn of events, Antoine King, a 27-year-old Oakland resident, pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute counterfeit Xanax pills. The illicit scheme, which spanned from October 6, 2014, to December 12, 2015, netted King and his co-conspirators a significant profit, which they laundered through international money transactions.

According to the charges, King admitted to selling counterfeit Xanax pills created as part of the operation. The pills were designed to resemble the real thing as closely as possible, making them nearly indistinguishable from authentic Xanax. King’s role in the scheme earned him a guilty plea to one count each of 21 U.S.C. § 846, 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), and 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a)(4).

The maximum statutory sentence for a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 is 5 years, while the maximum statutory sentence for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) is 20 years. The maximum statutory sentence for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a)(4) is 10 years. However, any sentence following conviction will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

This is not the first time King’s co-conspirators have faced the music. In February 2017, co-defendant David Beckford was sentenced to 123 months in prison, followed by a three-year period of supervised release. Stephan Florida, another co-defendant, received a 14-month sentence, while Isaiah Clayton was sentenced to 36 months’ probation. Beau Sankene, the last co-defendant, has pleaded guilty to crimes related to her role in the conspiracy, but a date for her sentencing has not been scheduled.

The investigation into the counterfeit Xanax pills trafficking ring was a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sheila Armbrust and Marc Wolf are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Ana Guerra and Yanira Osorio.

The prosecution’s efforts are a testament to their commitment to combating the scourge of counterfeit pills on our streets. The consequences of such illicit activities are severe, and those involved will be held accountable. As the investigation continues, we can only hope that the ripple effects of this prosecution will spread, serving as a warning to those who would seek to profit from the suffering of others.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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