A man Port St. Lucie Police arrested in 2023 in what investigators at the time said was the largest fentanyl bust in city history was sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to court records.
Radames Guzman, 45, pleaded no contest to 14 charges, including trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in cocaine and sale of cocaine, before being sentenced in March in Circuit Judge Michael Linn’s court, records show.
Ten additional charges, of which seven counts were possession of weapon or ammunition by a felon, were dropped or not prosecuted, court records show.
Police in July 2023 announced what they said was the largest fentanyl bust in city history, seizing 10,000 pills weighing more than 2 pounds, and arresting an individual known as “Candy Man.”
Along with the fentanyl, valued at $300,000, police reported seizing 1.3 pounds of cocaine, 4.5 pounds of marijuana, THC wax and nine firearms. Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid responsible for many overdose deaths, while THC is the substance primarily responsible for the effects of marijuana on a person’s mental state.
Then Interim Police Chief Richard Del Toro said the bust followed a lengthy investigation after police got information Guzman was selling drugs from his business, Xotic Snackz, in the 1300 block of Southwest Gatlin Boulevard.
“Detectives were able to confirm that Guzman was indeed selling cocaine from the business and made several undercover purchases during this month,” Del Toro said at the time.
Police executed search warrants at Guzman’s home in the 3400 block of Southwest Savona Boulevard and at his business where he was taken into custody.
According to an arrest affidavit, Guzman had a .380-caliber handgun in his waistband.
He told police he owned Xotic Snackz for about 18 months,
“Approximately six months ago he began selling cocaine and marijuana to combat the ‘bad economy,’” an arrest affidavit states. “He further informed that he has several car payments, a mortgage and six kids and selling the candy was not supporting his financial needs.”
Guzman was sentenced to 30 years on each of at least three of the charges, with lesser amounts for the rest. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Sentencing imposed in largest fentanyl bust in Florida city’s history
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
