Prolific Fentanyl Dealer Pleads Guilty

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Willie Bryant (25, Parrish) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Bryant conspired to distribute fentanyl from at least September 2018 through February 27, 2019. In early 2019, Bryant sold fentanyl in increasing amounts to an undercover detective on multiple occasions. On February 27, 2019, Bryant again met the undercover detective to sell an ounce of fentanyl. When Bryant arrived at the meeting location, law enforcement detained him and recovered the fentanyl. During an interview with investigators, Bryant admitted to having obtained over a kilogram and a half of fentanyl from a variety of sources of supply during the previous six months, which he then distributed.

This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation entitled “Hot Batch.” The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. 

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout.