A trio of fentanyl dealers in Florida have been sentenced to federal prison after a six-month sting operation uncovered a stash of deadly narcotics at a local motel.
According to court documents, Marvin ‘MJ’ Mitchell (36, St. Petersburg) rented and operated several rooms at the Express Inn motel in Clearwater, where he directed his conspirators, Christopher Hughes (44, Clearwater) and Emma Leifer (26, Clearwater), to sell fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine around the clock.
The sale of these narcotics led to dozens of drug overdoses at the Express Inn and the surrounding area. On June 17, 2019, law enforcement executed search warrants at the Express Inn and discovered fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, used syringes, cash, and a drug ledger.
Mitchell was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, Hughes to 8 years, and Leifer to 6 years and 6 months for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pinellas Park Police Department, with assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Pasco and Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
The exact location of the crime was the Express Inn motel in Clearwater, Florida.
Related Federal Cases
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- Diante Jarrel Lewis, Fentanyl and Meth Sales, Florida 2022 · Georgia
- Ryan Jenkins, Fentanyl Dealing, Florida 2024 · Florida
- Florida Duo Gets 73 Years for Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Gun Crimes · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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