In Fort Myers, drug trafficker Nicholas P. Smith has been found guilty and faces up to 20 years in prison. The verdict follows a bench trial and has sparked local debate on the drug war's impact. U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell delivered the ruling, and Smith's sentencing is scheduled for November 18.
Smith, a 45-year-old resident of Fort Myers, was busted by local law enforcement for traffic violations which is a classic case of a routine stop uncovering something more sinister; this happened near the cross streets of Winkler Avenue and Fowler Street, where officers discovered not one, but a clutch of 11 smaller bags of a pink powdery substance, the substances were identified as Para-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl after they were subjected to testing. According to the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, if the court imposes a severe sentence, Smith could be looking at up to 20 years in federal prison.
The case involved both Homeland Security Investigations and the Fort Myers Police Department working together. These partnerships are growing more common in the drug fight as agencies combine efforts to address distribution networks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Darcey led the prosecution, presenting a strong case that led to Smith's guilty verdict.
