Lantana Resident Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Prison for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

A Lantana resident was sentenced yesterday to more twenty-one years in prison for distributing heroin and fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Adolphus P.  Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sean Scheller, Chief, Lantana Police Department, and Dave Aronberg, State Attorney, Palm Beach County State Attorney made the announcement.

Kerry Maurice McCray, 41, of Palm Beach County, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg to a total of 262 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and one count of knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (Case No. 18-80159-CR).

Following a number of undercover purchases of heroin from McCray, law enforcement obtained search warrants for his vehicles, cell phones, and motel room.  As officers approached McCray’s motel room he fled, tossing items from his person and refusing to obey their lawful orders to stop.  He was eventually apprehended and taken into custody.  Several pieces of crack cocaine were discovered around McCray’s person, along with three cell phones.  Additionally, officers found a baggie containing heroin and fentanyl that had fallen from McCray, when he was fleeing the police.  The search of McCray’s motel room revealed additional pre-packaged heroin, marijuana, a scale, a cutting agent, a Ruger 9mm handgun and two magazines containing ammunition. 

Based upon an analysis of telephone records and two victim reports, McCray was connected to eight non-fatal overdoses of narcotics.

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the DEA and Lantana Police Department.  She thanked the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this matter.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci 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.