Federal Jury Convicts South Florida Resident of Participating in Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

A West Palm Beach resident was convicted by a federal jury today of participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy.

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Florida, Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Office, and Ric Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) made the announcement.

Balmy Lincoln Joseph, 24, of West Palm Beach, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing heroin (Case No. 18-CR-80153).  Joseph is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas on March 21, 2019 at 1:15 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. 

According to the court records, including evidence introduced at trial, on July 18, 2018, a search warrant was executed by PBSO personnel at Joseph’s residence in West Palm Beach.  The investigation revealed that Joseph had rented his apartment using a stolen identity.  During the course of the search, law enforcement discovered 14 grams of fentanyl and 59 grams of heroin in the pockets of a jacket hanging in Joseph’s closet.  In Joseph’s bathroom, officers discovered empty capsules, a cutting agent, and a scale associated with heroin trafficking.  Joseph shared the residence with his co-defendant, Delson Marc.  In Marc’s room, which was open and accessible to Joseph, law enforcement found a garage door clicker and keys that opened a locked garage freezer.  Law enforcement executed a second search warrant in the detached garage and found 7.1 kilograms of heroin in the freezer, with an estimated street value of 1.4 million dollars.   Ketamine and fentanyl were also found in the freezer.

Marc previously pled guilty to participating in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2019 by Judge Dimitrouleas. 

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the DEA and PBSO in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rinku Tribuiani and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parnofiello.  

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.