Lake Worth Resident Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distributing Heroin, Carfentanyl and Cocaine

Roberto Paul Mendoza, 28, of Palm Beach County, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks to 240 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to three counts of distribution of heroin, carfentanyl, and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

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

According to the court record, Mendoza distributed heroin mixed with carfentanyl and cocaine to an undercover police officer on three occasions.  Thereafter, during the execution of a search warrant of Mendoza’s residence and vehicle distribution quantities of heroin and a firearm were discovered and seized by law enforcement.  Further, court records also showed that Mendoza was responsible for distributing carfentanyl, which ultimately caused the death of a 40 year-old man. 

Mrs. Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the DEA and PBSO in this matter.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci.

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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.