A Vero Beach man is facing a possible 40-year stint behind bars after pleading guilty to distributing the potent opioid fentanyl. Sudiata Neket Zanja Stinson, 47, admitted guilt to two counts of the charge in a Miami federal court on Feb. 7.
Officials said that Stinson was busted after selling roughly 20 grams of the deadly drug on separate occasions in April 2023. However, the date for sentencing has yet to be determined. This case springs from a larger effort by both the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office to combat the spread of fentanyl in the region.
The collaboration between agencies has been pivotal in the crackdown on fentanyl distribution. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA's Miami Field Division, and Sheriff Eric Flowers of IRCSO have jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was a coordinated affair, involving the DEA's Miami Field Division, their Port St. Lucie Resident Office, and the IRCSO. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, further details on the case and related documents can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida or through the PACER system, under case number 23-cr-14040.
