Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Arnold Gerard Nelson, Jr. (33, Tampa) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison and James Thomas Lang, III (33, Tampa) to 11years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute at least100 grams of heroin and fentanyl. As part of the sentence, the court also entered a money judgment against Lang for $19,350, and a money judgment against Nelson for $25,200, the proceeds of the conspiracy. Nelson and Lang had previously pleaded guilty to the offense.
According to court documents, from January 23 through Oct. 30, 2018, Nelson and Lang conspired to sell substances containing heroin and fentanyl, and engaged in a series of transactions with an undercover officer (UC) and a confidential informant (CI). On Jan. 23, 2018, Nelson and two other individuals met with the UC and CI at a residence in New Port Richey. During this meeting, Nelson sold the UC more than 28 grams of a substance containing heroin and fentanyl. Nelson said he had a source for heroin, and needed help moving the product.
On April 5, 2019, Nelson and the CI arranged to meet again to conduct another narcotics transaction. On this occasion, Nelson and Lang met with the UC and CI at the residence in New Port Richey, and sold the UC more than 55 grams of a substance containing heroin and fentanyl.
Nelson and Lang met with the UC and CI again at the same residence on April 19 and May 10, 2018, and sold heroin to the UC. On both occasions, they sold approximately 57 grams of heroin and, during the May 10 transaction, they also sold approximately 23 grams of tablets purported to contain the drug ecstasy (MDMA). According to laboratory analysis, the tablets actually contained methamphetamine.
On June 14, 2018, Nelson and Lang met the UC and CI at a restaurant in Tampa and sold the UC approximately 54 grams of heroin. After this transaction, Lang continued to communicate with the UC about possible narcotics and firearms sales. Lang met with the UC four additional times between July 12 and Nov. 1, 2018. During these meetings, Lang sold the UC more heroin and tablets containing methamphetamine. Lang also sold the UC three firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods" Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety - one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
