On May 30, a Florida man was arrested after Lake County deputies found 31 packages of heroin in his possession. He claimed to be an undercover federal agent.
The defendant, a 31-year-old Mascotte resident, was discovered driving with a revoked driver’s license. While talking with deputies, he repeatedly said he was a federal agent and also said he had items hidden in his clothing. He then pulled out 31 bags of heroin and $900 in cash from the back of his pants. He was arrested and charged with drug possession with the intent to deliver and driving on a revoked license. He was taken to Lake County Jail and held on $40,000 bond.
According to court records, the defendant has been jailed at least 19 times over the past nine years for a long list of crimes. These include DUI, driving with a revoked or suspended license, driving with an expired registration, possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. In addition to being arrested by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, he has also been taken into custody by the Clermont Police Department, the Groveland Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 25.
Defendants facing drug crime charges could be at risk for harsh legal consequences, particularly if they are repeat offenders. However, a criminal defense attorney could help protect a defendant’s rights before and during a trial and work to obtain a better outcome. In some cases, it may be possible to get the charges dismissed. However, if the evidence is strong, legal counsel may recommend negotiating a plea deal that reduces the charges.
Source: Village-News, “Man carrying heroin and claiming to be undercover federal agent arrested by Lake County deputies“, June 4, 2018