Two Miami-Dade brothers pled guilty in federal court, on July 28, 2017, for their involvement in a drug trafficking scheme.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Katherine Fernandez Rundle, State Attorney, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office; Peter J. Forcelli, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division; and Juan J. Perez, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), made the announcement.
Michael Palermo, 29, pled guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises, possessing with the intent to deliver controlled substances, possessing a firearm while a convicted felon, and possessing of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison.
According to the court record, including the agreed upon factual proffer, between Feb. 25, 2017 and April 13, 2017, Michael Palermo used his residence to manufacture and sell controlled substances. On April 13, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered narcotics, United States currency, and multiple loaded firearms. Michael Palermo, a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Michael Palermo’s brother, Anthony Palermo, 27, pled guilty to tampering with documents or proceedings. Prior to law enforcement’s execution of the search warrant at Michael Palermo’s residence, video surveillance captured Anthony Palermo attempting to destroy evidence by flushing narcotics down the toilet. Anthony Palermo faces a maximum statutory sentence of twenty years in prison.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro on Oct. 13, 2017.
Mr. Greenberg commends the investigative efforts of ATF and MDPD in relation to this matter. Mr. Greenberg also thanked the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for their assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marianne Curtis from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
