U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Fort Myers Man Pleads Guilty To Dealing Fentanyl That Caused A Twenty-One Year Old Man To Die Of A Drug Overdose
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Gregory Apicella (53, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and to causing the overdose death of “J.Y.,” a 21-year old man living in Fort Myers. Apicella faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to the
, on January 18, 2018, Apicella sold fentanyl from his home on South Entrada Drive in Fort Myers. J.Y. used the fentanyl that Apicella had sold and died of an overdose. The next day, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (“LCSO”) conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Apicella. LCSO then executed a search warrant at Apicella’s residence and recovered approximately nine grams of fentanyl from a safe in the bedroom.This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Cohen and Charles Schmitz.
Updated February 26, 2019
Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids
Component