Tampa, FL – In a shocking turn of events, Edwin Hill, a 51-year-old man from Holiday, Florida, has pleaded guilty to a string of serious crimes, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Hill, also known as ‘Z,’ has been involved in a large-scale fentanyl trafficking operation in Pasco County. He used a residence in New Port Richey for distributing the drugs and his personal residence in Holiday for storing the controlled substances, cash, and firearms.
After four controlled purchases of fentanyl from Hill, federal authorities obtained search warrants for both residences and executed them on September 27, 2018. During the execution of the search warrants, agents recovered more than a half-kilogram of fentanyl, almost a kilogram of cocaine, five firearms – including two that had been reported stolen – and more than $370,000 in cash.
Hill has agreed to forfeit his interest in a house in Pasco County that was used in the offense, approximately $400,536 in drug proceeds, three handguns, and assorted ammunition. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years, and up to life in federal prison, and is subject to enhanced minimum penalties due to a prior conviction for attempted first-degree murder.
The charges and penalties for each offense are as follows:
Count One: Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 1 Kilogram or More of Heroin and 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl – Mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment up to a maximum term of life imprisonment.
Count Two: Distribution of Fentanyl – Maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Count Three: Distribution of Fentanyl – Maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Count Four: Distribution of Fentanyl – Maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Count Five: Distribution of Fentanyl – Maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Count Seven: Possession of 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl and 500 Grams or More of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute – Mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment up to a maximum term of life imprisonment.
Count Eight: Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking – Mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment to be served consecutively to the drug counts.
Hill was arrested on September 27, 2018, and has remained in custody since then. He has agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and has provided information that has led to the conviction of a co-conspirator, Nelson White. White was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to over 21 years in federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, the Plant City Police Department, and the Winter Haven Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza. Assistant United States Attorney James Muench is handling the forfeiture.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the community to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.
Related Federal Cases
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- Veronica Dittman, Fentanyl Distribution, Tempe AZ, 2023 · Iowa
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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