Michael Achille, Conspiracy to Distribute Tapentadol, Florida 2022

A Rockledge man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute tapentadol, a pharmaceutical opiate, in Florida and other locations. Michael Achille, 57, pleaded guilty to the charges in May 2022.

According to court documents, Achille worked with conspirators to obtain international shipments containing thousands of pills of tapentadol, among other pharmaceutical controlled substances. The pills were sent to Achille from locations in India.

Achille directed the packages to a fake name at an address in Cape Canaveral where he could retrieve the shipments. He then redistributed the pills in smaller quantities and shipped hundreds of those pills to addresses in Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, and other locations.

The investigation revealed multiple shipments received by Achille in December and January 2021 involving more than 11,000 pills. “Trafficking narcotics destroys the fabric of society and make victims out of communities,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

Achille’s scheme was a brazen attempt to circumvent the law and bring illicit substances into the United States. His actions put countless lives at risk and caused irreparable harm to his community.

With his four-year sentence, Achille will now face the consequences of his actions. The sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and their commitment to keeping our communities safe.

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