The streets of Pinellas County just got a little bit safer, but only after two lives were lost to the deadly poison that was flooding the community. Corey Gaddy, a 31-year-old St. Petersburg man, has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his role in selling fentanyl that led to two fatal overdoses.
Gaddy’s conviction comes after a lengthy investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Largo Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
According to court records, Gaddy was a supplier of opioids in Pinellas County since 2017. His network of dealers included Shawn Rodriguez, a co-conspirator who was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months’ imprisonment in February. Gaddy’s operation was a well-oiled machine, with evidence showing he continued to distribute fentanyl even after one of his customers died from the overdose.
On February 28, 2019, the Largo Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Gaddy and discovered heroin concealed in his pants. At the time, he was on bond for a pending state case. But Gaddy’s troubles didn’t end there. On November 6, 2019, while still on bond, he distributed fentanyl to Rodriguez, who then supplied it to K.E. The next day, K.E. was found dead from fentanyl toxicity.
Gaddy’s operation was a recipe for disaster, but he continued to peddle his poison. In April 2020, he distributed fentanyl to J.P. and another person. Just two days later, J.P. was found dead on a fishing boat. The investigation found that Gaddy had learned about K.E.’s death but continued to supply fentanyl, putting countless lives at risk.
The case against Gaddy was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Lauren Stoia. Their hard work has brought some measure of justice to the families of the two victims, and it serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of fentanyl trafficking.
As the investigation into Gaddy’s operation continues, one thing is clear: the streets of Pinellas County are a little bit safer, but only after two lives were lost to the poison that was flooding the community. Corey Gaddy’s 18-year sentence is a reminder that those who profit from the opioid crisis will be held accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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