Attorney General: Florida Heroin Trafficker Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

Date Added: March 28, 2019 5:30 pm

Contact:
Trevor DeGroot
Communications Coordinator
Office of the Attorney General

FLORIDA HEROIN TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 20-year prison sentence for a Deltona man trafficking heroin. Henry Guilfu Bermudez, 44, pleaded guilty to distributing heroin throughout western Volusia County. Charges include conspiracy to traffic in heroin, trafficking in heroin and two other related felony counts. The Honorable James R. Clayton, Circuit Judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, added five years of supervised probation to begin once the defendant is released from prison.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Heroin is a deadly drug helping fuel the opioid crisis claiming 17 lives a day in Florida. We must do everything in our power to stop the trafficking of heroin and other dangerous opioids into our state. I hope this long prison sentence sends a clear message to anyone trying to sell drugs in Florida, that they will be caught and will spend a long time behind bars.”

Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood said, “This conviction and prison sentence will make Volusia County a safer place, and it should serve as a warning to other drug dealers thinking about preying on our community. We will continue to do the hard, proactive police work it takes to track down the dealers, put them behind bars where they belong and get their deadly poison off our streets. I want to thank all who played a part in the successful prosecution of this case, and I hope Mr. Bermudez has time to reflect on his choices during his lengthy prison term.”

In 2017, authorities arrested drug users caught with small amounts of heroin in Volusia County. The Volusia Bureau of Investigation and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office soon began a lengthy investigation into a heroin trafficking organization operating in Volusia County, believed to be the source of heroin seized in recent arrests.

Following interviews with the users, investigators identified Bermudez as the ring leader. Bermudez obtained heroin from a supplier in Orange County and then transported the heroin into Volusia County. Bermudez supervised the distribution of heroin throughout Volusia County to both local drug dealers and users.

After gathering sufficient evidence, law enforcement arrested Bermudez in Deltona, along with seven lower-level drug dealers and 12 users. Authorities seized approximately 1.5 kilos of heroin, worth $150,000, destined for distribution in Florida. 

The sentences for the drug dealers ranged from three to 17 years in prison. Many of the drug users received residential treatment. Some received intensive outpatient treatment as part of a probationary sentence. Cases are still pending for two drug dealers and one user. 

Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor David Gillespie handled the case.