The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A sheriff’s deputy in southeastern Florida was arrested and fired after he was accused of smuggling ecstasy concealed in candy wrappers on a cruise ship with the alleged intent of selling it.
According to reports, at the end of 2024, someone notified the authorities and told them that they believed a 36-year-old Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy was selling drugs. An investigation was opened, and on December 20, a confidential informant met with the suspect and allegedly bought 12 MDMA pills.
Law enforcement agents from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Miami-Dade State Attorney Office’s Public Corruption Prosecution Unit worked together. They reported that they learned the man was planning to attend the “Allure of the Seas Groove Cruise.” The event is a 4-day excursion described as “a journey into the heart of dance music onboard one of the ten largest cruise ships to ever navigate the oceans.” It was purported that he was planning to bring drugs onboard that he planned to sell to others at the music festival.
An arrest warrant was obtained, and on January 22, investigators, including a K9, went to the parking lot to stop him from boarding the ship. They approached him, and the K9 reportedly reacted when sniffing the man’s luggage. When they searched through the contents, they allegedly discovered MDMA pills hidden inside Skittles packages.
The man was taken into custody and booked into the Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department. He is facing preliminary charges of possession, sale, and trafficking of a controlled substance – MDMA. A few hours later, he was released after posting bond. The suspect was fired from his position at the sheriff’s office.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a drug offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.