TALLAHASSEE MAN SENTENCED FOR FENTANYL DISTRIBUTION

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Curtis Battle, 38, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to a 15-year term of imprisonment for distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, “crack” cocaine, and marijuana. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Deadly fentanyl continues to have a devastating impact on communities across the Northern District of Florida and nationwide, but our state and federal law enforcement partners remain committed to aggressively targeting and removing the peddlers of this poison from our streets. My office stands ready to back up those law enforcement efforts with the full force of the law, and this successful prosecution and substantial sentence is yet another step toward fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will Take Back America from the drug traffickers who have flooded our streets with deadly drugs.”

Law enforcement conducted a series of controlled drug purchases directly from the defendant, then executed a federal search warrant at his Tallahassee, Florida residence. During the search, law enforcement seized quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, “crack” cocaine, and marijuana, along with paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking and $15,000 in currency that was identified as proceeds of drug sales.

“Peddling these poisons in our communities will not be tolerated,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA will continue to make removing these bad actors a top priority.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K Mountin.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.