Jackylin Bonifacio, Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Death, Florida 2021

A Tampa woman has been sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison for her role in distributing heroin and fentanyl that resulted in a woman's death in Hillsborough County.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Jackylin Bonifacio, 38, of Tampa, was arrested on December 20, 2019, after a joint investigation led by the FBI identified her as the person who had distributed the fentanyl to the victim. Bonifacio was found in possession of 25 baggies of fentanyl, packaged for distribution.

The victim, a Tampa woman, ingested the fentanyl on December 19, 2019, believing it was heroin. The next morning, she was found dead in her home. An autopsy by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the victim died from ingestion of substances, including heroin and fentanyl.

A toxicologist analyzed the baggies recovered from Bonifacio and residue from a syringe found near the victim at the time of the overdose and determined that they contained similar mixtures of fentanyl and Xylazine. Based on the circumstances of the death and the toxicology from the autopsy, the Medical Examiner's Office determined that the use of the fentanyl caused the victim's death.

Bonifacio's codefendant, Leslie Pagan, was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the offense. Pagan was identified as Bonifacio's supplier and was arrested on September 1, 2020. Investigators recovered 97 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, heroin, and Xylazine, and more than $105,000 from her residence.

The investigation was a result of a partnership between the United States Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.

The investigation was the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation's drug supply.

Bonifacio had pleaded guilty on February 12, 2021. The court sentenced her to four years and nine months in federal prison.

Mandatory facts: Defendant - Jackylin Bonifacio, Criminal charges - Distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death, City and state - Tampa, Florida, Exact date - December 20, 2019, Sentence - Four years and nine months in federal prison.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/tampa-woman-sentenced-prison-distribution-heroin-and-fentanyl-resulting-death