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Press Release

Repeat Offender Sentenced to Mandatory Federal Prison Term for Drug Trafficking

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

Miami, Florida – A federal district judge in West Palm Beach sentenced 42-year-old Clarence G. Kelley, III, a/k/a “Kemp,” of Lake Worth, Florida, to a mandatory term of 5 years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute more than a kilogram of cocaine.

In March of 2021, law enforcement began investigating Kelley for his involvement in a drug-trafficking operation.   As a result of the investigation, law enforcement executed State of Florida warrants at two Lake Worth residences on April 21, 2021.  At the residence where Kelley and his girlfriend were found, law enforcement discovered items to include 1,470 grams of cocaine in the garage and a Gucci bag in the bedroom containing Kelley’s driver’s license and approximately $18,000.   Kelley admitted that he had purchased the cocaine and sold approximately nine ounces before his arrest.  Law enforcement located items to include kilogram presses, grinders, blenders and residue at the second residence, which was used by Kelley to divide the cocaine for sale.  Kelley was previously convicted and sentenced federally for distributing crack cocaine.

In June 2021, Kelley pled guilty in West Palm Beach federal court to the sole count of the indictment, which charged the defendant with possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.  As part of his plea, Kelley agreed to forfeit $19,324.00 to the United States of America.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, La Verne J. Hibbert, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division, and Ric Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, made the announcement.

DEA’s West Palm Beach District Office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Sarah J. Schall prosecuted this case.

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, under case number 21-CR-80075.

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Contact

Marlene Rodriguez
Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney
Public Affairs Officer
USAFLS.News@usdoj.gov

Updated October 12, 2021

Topic
Drug Trafficking