Antonio Carlos Shine, 38, of Dania, Florida, was sentenced on Aug. 5 to 17 years and five months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and marijuana. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said, “This serial felon’s lengthy criminal record amply demonstrates that the only way we can prevent him from continuing to terrorize our communities with his criminality is by keeping him incarcerated. This successful prosecution and long prison sentence should be a warning to other would-be drug peddlers that the Northern District of Florida has zero-tolerance for these crimes.”
According to court documents, law enforcement officers intercepted a package containing nearly two pounds of methamphetamine addressed to a Tallahassee residence in August 2024. Officers conducted a controlled delivery at the residence; Shine took possession of the package and brought it inside. When officers executed a search warrant shortly after, Shine did not answer the door, prompting them to breach it. Shine then fled through the back door with the package but was immediately taken into custody. A search revealed a digital scale, narcotics paraphernalia, and 44 grams of marijuana packaged for sale inside the residence.
Shine had prior convictions including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver; he had served several terms in Florida state prison.
Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division, said, “This significant prison sentencing should serve as a deterrent to anyone attempting to use the US Mail for narcotics trafficking… The Postal Inspection Service will continue to work with the Tallahassee Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners to keep these poisons out of our communities.”
Shine’s term will be followed by ten years supervised release; violations could result in additional incarceration related to supervision violations.
The case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service and Tallahassee Police Department; Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer prosecuted it.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration and transnational crime organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida enforces federal laws across 23 counties including Tallahassee and collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood, according to its official website.