Drug Sale or Distribution

Published on: March 15, 2017

At Least 13 Arrested in Drug Raids in Orlando, Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

At least 13 people were arrested in a series of drug raids Thursday in Orlando and Tampa, according to reports.

Federal agents claim members of the group have been conspiring to sell heroin and cocaine since at least December 2015.

They are charged with conspiracy and intent to distribute a controlled substance.

At least $80,000 and a 2015 Acura ILX were seized, according to reports.

Have you recently been arrested in a drug raid? If so, you will definitely need the services of a highly skilled Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton who can help you. When you are arrested on drug charges, you need a defense attorney who can investigate every aspect of your case with the hopes of possibly getting your charges reduced or even completely dismissed. We can assist with your case and have extensive experience in handling drug cases on both the state and federal levels.

Published on: December 22, 2016

Jacksonville Man Dressed As Santa Arrested On Drug Charges

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A man dressed as Santa Claus was arrested Monday for allegedly possessing a variety of drugs, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office was conducting an investigation on Golfair Boulevard following numerous recent drug complaints when they claim the 41-year-old man was spotted standing at the driver’s door of a U-Haul rental truck in the parking lot of a business, according to police.

Police said the man stood out because he was wearing a red and white Santa Claus outfit, complete with hat and white beard.

The man was apparently seen several times going into the driver’s side of a U-Haul truck, retrieving items and walking away, police said.

After seeing police, the man allegedly ran from the parking lot where a large amount of marijuana was in plain view on the driver’s seat of the U-Haul.

Police claim the man resisted arrest.

A search of the U-Haul revealed marijuana, a scale with marijuana residue and a black pouch containing MDMA — commonly known as Ecstasy — on the front driver’s seat, according to reports.

There was also a 5-gallon orange bucket with a white lid on the driver’s side floorboard. Inside the bucket, police claim they uncovered marijuana, a yellow substance known to contain THC, Molly, Ecstasy pills and money.

The man was arrested and booked into the Duval County Jail.

Published on: September 16, 2016

‘Operation Dirty Dope’ Yields 15 Arrests in Boynton Beach

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Boynton Beach police arrested 15 people in their month-long undercover drug sting ‘Operation Dirty Dope’ aimed at catching suspected drug dealers across Boynton Beach.

With 247 overdoses since the start of the year, 19 of which turned fatal, Boynton Beach police launched this sting operation in an attempt to try to slow the pace of the drug trade. Police believe heroin was involved in more than two-thirds of the cases. Police also found heroin at 11 of the fatal overdoses, they said.

Of those arrested, 11 are accused of selling heroin and cocaine to undercover officers and confidential informants, according to police. The drug deals happened across Boynton Beach in Publix parking lots, a park, an apartment complex and other places, according to arrest reports.

Published on: May 27, 2016

Pinellas Park Doctor Gets 3 Years For 3 Pill Mill Deaths

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 76-year-old Pinellas Park doctor has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the deaths of three patients who were prescribed pain medications at his clinic.

A federal judge in Tampa called the man a “drug pusher” at sentencing Monday and said he will have the “rest of his life to think about that.”

Reports indicate that the man was unaware he was breaking the law and asked the judge to show mercy on his 66-year-old wife who is scheduled for sentencing Tuesday. She managed her husband’s office.

The couple was convicted during a 17-day trial on multiple counts in a drug and financial conspiracy.

The man was held accountable for the three deaths.

In an attempt to crack down on the pill mill epidemic in Florida, police and prosecutors can be a tad overzealous when it comes to charging legitimate health care professionals with running pill mills. With that said, innocent doctors and other health care providers are often accused of committing crimes they did not commit.

Published on: May 3, 2016

St. Pete Police Arrest Man Accused of Running $1 Million Marijuana Operation

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Detectives arrested a St. Petersburg man who was allegedly running a drug operation involving more than $1 million worth of marijuana.

The 24-year-old is facing charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Detectives claim they have been watching the man for several years.They received a tip that he was storing large quantities of marijuana in his apartment, which led them to obtain a search warrant, according to reports.

On March 23, investigators went to his apartment and apparently found 23 pounds of high-grade hydroponic marijuana that was packaged and ready for distribution inside his kitchen cabinets. Detectives claim they also found three guns and $87,000 in suspected drug money.

For the next month, detectives continued to investigate the man, and they claim they were able to identify about 230 pounds of marijuana — including the 23 pounds found his house apartment — and $168,000 cash associated with his operation.

Police say 230 pounds of marijuana has a street value of $1,150,000.

The U.S. Postal Service assisted police with the investigation, according to reports.

Being caught with any amount of marijuana and charged with a crime of marijuana possession in Florida is a very common drug charge. However, this does not mean you should take these charges lightly. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, you could be facing hefty fines, a permanent criminal record, and a significant amount of time behind bars.

Published on: March 1, 2016

15 Arrested in Undercover Heroin Sting in Manatee County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Fifteen people have been arrested as part of a drug-trafficking investigation in Manatee County.

The multi-agency investigation started due to the high number of recent heroin overdoses and deaths in the area.

During the 18-month undercover investigation, authorities allegedly confiscated $262,500 worth of heroin, $111,000 worth of cocaine, 200 grams of fentanyl, 100 hydromorphone pills, 28 firearms and more than $327,000 in cash and assets.

Detectives believe the investigation resulted in a significant decrease in the number of heroin overdoses and deaths in Manatee County.

In 2015, the Bradenton Police Department and the Manatee Sheriff’s Office investigated 77 heroin-related deaths. So far, there have not been any this year.

When an individual has been accused of or charged with a criminal offense involving heroin, it is crucial that they consult with a Florida Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton right away. You have legal rights that must be protected. It is important to know that under the law, you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The penalties in Florida for drug crimes are very serious, which is why we fight hard to protect those accused of drug crimes from lengthy prison terms and other penalties that can wreck their careers, reputation, and future.

Whether you have already been charged with a heroin or other drug crime, or are under investigation, it is imperative that you discuss your situation with us immediately. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can explore any and all options you have, and develop a strong defense strategy.

Published on: February 9, 2016

Brooksville Man Arrested for Selling Drugs Near Church

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A man was arrested in Brooksville early Wednesday morning for selling crack cocaine near a church.

Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies arrested the 54-year-old man at his home on Twigg Street.

Their search of the house allegedly revealed crack cocaine, marijuana packaged for distribution, drug paraphernalia, numerous guns and rounds of ammunition.

The man was charged with three counts of sale and possession of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, as well as the following:

Possession of a Structure for Manufacturing Controlled Substance
Trafficking in Crack Cocaine
Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of Marijuana over 20 Grams with Intent to Distribute
Felon in Possession of a Firearm (2 counts)
Felon in Possession of Ammunition
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

The man’s house shares Twigg Street with three churches. It is also in the vicinity of a bus stop that services several schools, Brooksville Engineering, Science, and Technology Academy (BEST), and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office South Brooksville Community Center, according to reports.

Florida laws make it a greater crime to be convicted of drug sales within 1000 feet of a church. This can enhance a misdemeanor drug crime to a first-degree felony, which means the person convicted could face up to 30 years in state prison.

The thing about drug crimes within 1,000 feet of a church is that these cases almost always have holes, like is it really a church? Does the church hold regular religious services? Does it actually measure one thousand feet exactly?

There is always evidence that must be questioned in drug crimes cases. At Whittel & Melton, our Florida Drug Crimes Defense Lawyers will investigate every shred of evidence and look for flaws in the prosecution’s case. Our ultimate goal is to beat the charges against you so that you can move on with your life unscathed.

Published on: December 18, 2015

Ongoing K2 Crackdown in Ocala Yields 3 Arrests

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Police said they arrested three suspected drug dealers on Thursday after a tip led them to a home where K2, an illegal synthetic marijuana, was being sold.

Police officials, including the multi-agency Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, continue to crack down on the local sale and possession of K2, which has sent dozens of people to the hospital and caused problems to several neighborhoods since late last month.

One of the three taken into custody had been arrested on Dec. 3 on principal to sale of synthetic marijuana. The man, who had been released from the Marion County Jail on Dec. 9, now faces a charge of possession of synthetic cannabinoids with intent to sell.

When arrested Thursday, the man was sitting in a vehicle and that contained K2, and the drug was near him, according to drug agents.

Agents also arrested a 27-year-old woman on charges of possession of synthetic cannabinoids with intent to sell, possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The third person arrested, a 39-year-old man, was detained as he walked away from the home, according to reports. He faces charges of for sale of synthetic cannabinoids and possession of synthetic marijuana less than three grams.

Authorities allegedly recovered 56 bags of synthetic marijuana and regular marijuana. The synthetic marijuana will be sent to a laboratory for testing, officials said.

Since late November, Ocala Fire Rescue and Ocala Police Department officers have responded to K2-related incidents at several locations, primarily at the Salvation Army compound near downtown, in Tuscawilla Park and along Northeast Eighth Avenue, on calls about people “acting weird.” The behaviors have included people being violent, getting into fights and having seizures.

Officials said some of those affected were taken to hospitals and others were taken to mental health facilities under the Baker Act, which allows authorities to intervene if people are considered a danger to themselves or others.

Fire and police officials estimated more than 40 people have been affected in some way by the drug. No deaths have been reported. Police officials believe the synthetic marijuana has been tampered with or laced with a more harmful chemical that causes people to have an adverse reaction and requires medical attention.

In response to the spike in medical calls and the ongoing investigation, OPD has deployed extra officers to some areas.

So far during the crackdown, 10 people have been arrested on K2-related charges.

K2, which goes by numerous other names, is a substance that mimics the effects of marijuana. Manufacturers are able to do this by taking a mixture of herbs and spices and spraying them with a synthetic chemical that has a similar structure to THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana. Florida and other states across the country have been cracking down on K2, and some states have even banned this drug. If you have been arrested for possession, sale, or distribution of K2, talk to a Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton today.

Some other common names for K2 include:

Spice
Black Mamba
Bliss
Bombay Blue
Genie
Zoha

Published on: November 20, 2015

FDLE Seizes 23 Pounds of Marijuana from Palm Coast Home

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

More than 20 pounds of marijuana, a semi-automatic pistol and $9,000 in cash were allegedly found Monday after agents raided a Flagler County home.

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Tri-County Narcotics Task Force, as well as Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies, apparently seized 23 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $76,000, a pistol and the cash during the search warrant they executed around 8:52 p.m. at a home on Wheatfield Drive in Palm Coast.

A 21-year-old of Palm Coast was arrested and charged with one count of possession of cannabis with intent to sell. He was booked into the Flagler County Jail on $10,000 bond.

According to jail records, he has since posted bond.

During the operations, the semi-automatic pistol that was seized was determined to have been reported stolen by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

With Florida law enforcement determined to crack down on drug laws and close ranks on drug distribution operations, it can be amazingly easy to find yourself arrested for a drug possession with intent to sell charge. Arrests like these can stem from simple misunderstandings or even after you have been allegedly caught for possession and the prosecution wishes to amp up the charges.

Regardless of the situation, adding intent to distribute to a drug possession charge can greatly increase the penalties you face if convicted. It is highly recommended you work with a Florida Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer to protect your rights and fight these charges.

Published on: November 16, 2015

Florida Deputy Accused of Selling Marijuana

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Authorities arrested a Florida deputy recently for her alleged role in a marijuana selling business following a month-long investigation.

According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, an anonymous tipster told them a 27-year-old female deputy was involved in drug activity. Authorities apparently searched the apartment she was staying at with her boyfriend and another couple Friday and said they found felony amounts of marijuana, packaging materials and other items typically associated with the sale and distribution of marijuana.

The woman was charged with marijuana possession over 20 grams, marijuana possession with intent to sell and possessing drug equipment.

She posted bail early Saturday morning and has been placed on administrative leave without pay.

The three other people in the apartment were also arrested on drug charges.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance in Florida and throughout the United States. Marijuana is heavily portrayed all over the media, from music videos, movies and television. Because of how common it is, many people assume that marijuana-related drug charges are not as serious as other types of drug crimes. This could not be further from the truth. If you are arrested for possessing or selling marijuana in the state of Florida you could face very serious consequences.

If you or someone you love has been arrested for a marijuana-related drug offense, the best thing you can do is contact an experienced Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible. You have a very small window of time to defend yourself from these charges, so it is best to act fast. A conviction for possessing or selling marijuana can have many consequences, and could affect your life long after you have served any jail time.