A federal jury in Orlando has convicted Terrence Denard Perkins, 45, of Sanford, on charges related to cocaine trafficking and firearms offenses. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the verdict, which includes possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Perkins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and could receive up to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for February 4, 2026. He was indicted on January 8, 2025.
Evidence presented at trial showed that law enforcement executed a narcotics search warrant at a house in Sanford occupied by Perkins’ elderly stepfather on January 9, 2024. Agents discovered an electronic money counter and several revolvers inside bedrooms, as well as a loaded AR-15 semiautomatic rifle hidden behind a sofa cushion.
In the backyard carport area, authorities found bags containing cocaine along with equipment used for cutting, packaging, and distributing drugs. A loaded AR-15 and a MAC-10 handgun wrapped in a t-shirt were located on the hood of Perkins’ Corvette near the packaging station.
Further searches revealed two broken-down cars on the property’s lawn containing eighteen vacuum-sealed kilogram bricks of cocaine—identified as Perkins’ inventory—as well as additional AR-15s, handguns, an AK-47 rifle, a machine gun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Financial documents reviewed during the investigation connected these items to Perkins' drug operation. DNA evidence and video footage from surveillance cameras at his stash house supported this connection. Social media posts made by Perkins also linked him to the seized materials. The United States government is proceeding with forfeiture actions against the firearms and ammunition involved in this case.
Perkins has seven prior felony convictions that include conspiracy to traffic cocaine and possessing firearms as a felon; he is legally barred from owning or possessing guns or ammunition under federal law.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation with support from Seminole County Sheriff’s Office’s City County Investigative Bureau (CCIB) and assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Varadan and Michael P. Felicetta prosecuted the case; Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington is handling asset forfeiture proceedings.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime through cooperation between law enforcement agencies at all levels alongside community organizations.
