Almost 100 people have died from overdoses in Pinellas County from February 2018 to June 2023. U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg is fighting to hold people accountable for these deaths. Most recently, a man was sentenced to life in prison for his actions that led to two overdose deaths.
What happened in the recent case, and what kind of charges do criminals face when they sell drugs that lead to an overdose death?
A Drug Deal Leads to Two Deaths
In May 2020, police were called to two overdose emergencies that took place within one mile of each other. A 34-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, whose names have not been released, suffered from fatal overdoses from fentanyl, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
It is believed that both individuals thought they were purchasing and taking heroin, not fentanyl, which can be deadly in even extremely small doses.
Police found no connection between the two individuals, but they noticed similarities in their stories. An investigation found that both individuals had obtained the fentanyl from the same person, Bobby Peterson. The woman purchased the drugs directly from Peterson, and the man was given the drugs from a friend, Jacqueline Schneider, who had purchased the drugs from Peterson.
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An Arrest and Charges Filed
Schneider aided police in their efforts to find and charge the man responsible for the drug sale that led to the two deaths. A year after the overdose deaths, she arranged a sale between Peterson and an undercover detective.
Peterson was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl leading to death, distribution of fentanyl leading to death, and distribution of fentanyl.
Schneider later testified against Peterson, helping to tie him to the sales that led to the two deaths in 2020. In April, Peterson was convicted on all counts after a jury trial, and he was recently sentenced.
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Serious Sentencing for a Serious Crime
Months after being found guilty, Peterson was sentenced by a federal judge. The judge is said to have considered Peterson’s past in the sentencing. Peterson had previously served four years in state prison for trafficking the opioid hydromorphone and selling cocaine.
On July 23, 2024, Peterson was sentenced to two life terms and 30 years in prison.
Schneider was also charged in the case. She pleaded guilty to criminal charges of fentanyl distribution and was sentenced to 5 years of probation.
Related: Facing Florida Drug Possession Charges: 6 Things You Need to Know
Not the First Case Centered Around Fatal Overdoses
This case is not the first time a person has faced serious consequences for selling drugs that led to an overdose death.
This blog has covered two stores of drug deals leading to criminal charges. One man was charged with first-degree murder after selling drugs that led to the death of a 27-year-old woman. In another case, a man was also charged with first-degree murder when the drugs he sold to a woman led to her death.
Fentanyl is extremely dangerous and can even cause harm to those who accidentally encounter it. Our blog covered a story of a toddler who died from fentanyl after coming into contact with it in an Airbnb. While no criminal charges were filed in the case, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Airbnb, the owner and manager of the property, and the man who rented the Airbnb before them.
Part of the uptick in criminal cases against individuals who sell fatal doses of illegal drugs has been fueled by the efforts of U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Since his appointment in 2022, Handberg has made fentanyl prosecutions a priority. He has doubled the number of cases brought in the last two years.
Under Florida Statute 782.04(1)(a)(3), any person supplying drugs to another person can be charged with homicide if the person dies after using the substance. Handberg has been putting Florida laws to work in charging and prosecuting drug dealers.
Those accused of causing a death as a result of a drug deal face first-degree murder charges, which can be punishable by life in prison with no parole and carry the consequence of the death penalty. Peterson is the latest individual to face the consequences of the crime of distributing a lethal dose of illegal substances.
Talk to an Attorney Today
Drug offenses, whether small possession charges or more serious distribution charges, are serious. If you have been charged with any drug-related charges, talk to a criminal defense attorney right away.
Make a plan for your case. Schedule a free call with attorney TJ Grimaldi. All consultations are free and confidential. Contact us to schedule or call 813-226-1023 now.
TJ Grimaldi joined McIntyre in 2011. McIntyre recruited TJ to create the divisions of personal injury and family law, as well as to expand the existing criminal defense practice at the firm. During TJ’s tenure at McIntyre, he has helped oversee and grow these practice areas. He continues to practice in these divisions while also expanding his own practice areas to include estate planning and immigration law. TJ is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.
