Tampa Crack Cocaine Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell yesterday sentenced the last of four individuals involved in a crack cocaine trafficking ring to federal prison.

The defendant, 30-year-old Paul Close, received a 15-year and six-month prison sentence for conspiring to distribute crack cocaine.

This case is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The other three defendants, Craig Cooley, Lataurus Wanser, and Daniel Brumfield, received sentences ranging from 9 to 21 years in prison for their roles in the trafficking ring.

According to court documents, Cooley, Wanser, and Close were supplying crack cocaine to Brumfield, who would then sell it to an undercover detective on several occasions. Cooley also supplied crack cocaine to the detective on four separate occasions, while Wanser and Close each supplied crack cocaine to the detective once.

The total amount of crack cocaine distributed to the undercover detective was 288.93 grams. In addition to selling the drugs to the undercover detective, Brumfield, a previously convicted felon, also sold the detective a loaded .380 caliber handgun and two boxes of .380 caliber ammunition.

The court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $13,215.00 against each individual, which were the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

Craig Cooley was also ordered to forfeit a 2009 Nissan 370Z Coupe, which was traceable to proceeds of the offense.

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