TAMPA, FL – Lennen Pacheco Colon, 25, of Orlando, is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars after being sentenced to six years and eleven months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington, is to be served consecutively to an already staggering 200-month sentence Colon is serving in the Southern District of Florida for armed kidnapping and carjacking. This isn’t a first-time offender getting a slap on the wrist; Colon is rapidly stacking up decades in the federal system.
The current case stems from a January 2023 deal gone sour. Court documents reveal Colon bragged to a confidential informant about access to a fentanyl supply, offering $25,000 worth of pills. The CI, understandably cautious, requested a sample before committing to such a large purchase. Colon agreed, arranging to sell 1,000 fentanyl pills for $4,500.
On or around January 18th, the exchange took place in Hillsborough County. Colon met the CI at their vehicle, completing the transaction – a bag of pills for cash. That bag, however, wasn’t just filled with illicit profit; it contained 992 pills later confirmed by the DEA lab to be pure fentanyl. The fact that Colon was willing to push that quantity of a deadly opioid speaks volumes about his disregard for human life.
This wasn’t a solo operation. The investigation, conducted by a multi-agency task force including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, highlights the growing coordination needed to combat the fentanyl crisis. The case fell under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a program designed to dismantle major criminal organizations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shauna S. Hale prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and pushing for a substantial sentence. While six years and eleven months is a significant term, it’s crucial to remember this is on top of a 200-month sentence for violent crimes. Colon’s criminal history paints a picture of a dangerous individual with a clear pattern of escalating offenses.
The sentencing of Lennen Pacheco Colon serves as a grim reminder of the relentless flow of fentanyl into our communities and the lengths to which dealers will go to profit from addiction. It also underscores the importance of collaborative law enforcement efforts in tackling the opioid epidemic and bringing those responsible to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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