United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced on Aug. 3 the unsealing of an indictment charging five individuals with federal drug offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances such as fentanyl.
The defendants named in the indictment are Aaron McKinney, 38, of Dade City; Derrick Harrison, 53, of Dade City; Derrick Harrison II, 35, of Zephyrhills; Derrick Gentles, 41, of Dade City; and Michael Taylor, 34, also of Dade City. The charges include drug trafficking conspiracy and multiple counts related to the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine.
According to court records and the indictment, McKinney is accused of selling fentanyl and other controlled substances in Dade City with assistance from the other defendants. The organization allegedly trafficked more than 400 grams of fentanyl along with cocaine. If convicted, McKinney faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Harrison and Harrison II each face up to 40 years in prison, while Gentles and Taylor face up to 20 years.
“An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law,” said officials. “Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.” The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pasco Sheriff’s Office and Zephyrhills Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan will prosecute the case.
This prosecution falls under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. According to authorities involved in this initiative, “The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs…and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.” Region 20 (Tampa) includes agents from various law enforcement agencies led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Middle District.