Florida Man Pleads Guilty in Case Targeting Opioid Trafficking on the Darknet

PITTSBURGH, PA. - A Florida resident pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of carfentanil, as well as distribution of quantities of methamphetamine, carfentanil, and ecstasy, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Robert M. Gilner, a/k/a Gman19635, 30, of St. Petersburg, FL, pleaded guilty to four counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Gilner conspired with others, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of carfentanil. Additionally, on March 10, 2017, he distributed a quantity of methamphetamine and, on March 22, 2017, he distributed a quantity of carfentanil and a quantity of ecstasy to the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for January 17, 2019 at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of five years and up to life in prison, a fine of $13,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

"Gman19635 is the fifth defendant investigated and charged in Western Pennsylvania since Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) initiative in Pittsburgh earlier this year," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "Through our office’s expertise in opioids and cybercrime, we are aggressively targeting drug trafficking of fentanyl and other opioids on the Darknet."

Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations as part of the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) initiative.