“I am proud of our federal, state, and local partners for their tireless efforts to keep us safe and serve a critical role in our efforts to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We will continue to support the efforts our law enforcement partners as we work together to investigate and prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.”
In early 2021, investigators with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration/Tallahassee Resident Office developed information that Brinson, who was then serving a period of court-ordered supervision subsequent to his earlier release from federal prison after serving an 84-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base in the Northern District of Florida in 2005. Investigators were able to make contact with, negotiate, and then conduct two controlled purchases of what was initially thought to be heroin, but later tested positive as a total of 14 grams of fentanyl. Upon his indictment for the new offenses, Brinson was immediately taken into custody.
“Last year, 68% of the American lives lost to drug overdoses and poisonings were due to an illicit synthetic opioid, like fentanyl, the same poison that Mr. Brinson was distributing in his community,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This sentence not only holds Mr. Brinson accountable for his crimes, but also reaffirms the DEA Miami Field Division’s commitment to working closely with our law enforcement partners to bring those who distribute this poison in our North Florida communities to justice.”
This case resulted from a combined investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Florida Hi-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin prosecuted the case.