In a recent federal case, a Haines City man received a sentence of over a decade in prison on drug trafficking charges. Robert Lubin, 36, was handed down a 12-year and 6-month sentence by Senior U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell for his involvement in the distribution of significant amounts of fentanyl and cocaine. His sentencing came after a guilty plea entered on June 18, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The court records reveal that Lubin's activities came to light in July 2023 when he sold fentanyl to an individual. A parcel meant for Lubin, which was intercepted in that same month, contained nearly a kilogram of fentanyl. Arrested in September 2023, Lubin was found in possession of more than 3 kilograms of cocaine, which he was transporting across the state line from Georgia to the Middle District of Florida.
Several agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Lakeland Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol, collaborated in the investigation leading to Lubin's capture and conviction. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman assumed the role of the prosecution.
This case is part of a broader effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) to tackle high-level criminal operations. The OCDETF makes use of a "prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach." Additional information about the initiative is available on the Justice Department's website.
