Five Plead Guilty To Trafficking Heroin In South Tampa

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that five individuals have pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin. Edward McKenzie (40, Tampa), George Perdigon, A/K/A “Lee,” (48, Tampa), and Jesse Greer, A/K/A “Alex,” (40, Tampa) each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5, up to 40 years, in federal prison. Michael Regan (40, Sun City Center) faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Gregory Phelps (61, Tampa) faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison, and has agreed to forfeit the property located at 3608 West Oklahoma Avenue in Tampa that had been used by the defendants to facilitate and further the conspiracy.

According to the plea agreements, the individuals were part of a drug trafficking organization operating in South Tampa that transported heroin from New York City. The co-conspirators used the residence on West Oklahoma Avenue to store and distribute the heroin. Purchasers also used heroin at the home. 

During the investigation, undercover detectives from the Tampa Police Department purchased heroin from the co-conspirators. Controlled purchases were also arranged through a confidential source. The investigation culminated during a traffic stop of McKenzie and Perdigon on April 22, 2016, during which solid heroin and hundreds of baggies of heroin packaged for distribution were seized.

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.