A Polk County man has been handed a hefty 18-year prison sentence for methamphetamine trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Wesley Anderson, a 46-year-old from Lakeland, received his sentence after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute the illicit substance.
Judge Kathryn Mizelle determined Anderson's fate, with the official announcement coming from U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. Arrested about two years prior to outside a Lakeland hotel, the search that followed uncovered a substantial stash of narcotics. A backpack in Anderson's hotel room was found, containing over 1,300 grams of meth, according to court documents.
Not just a local operation, Anderson's case was part of a broader federal initiative dubbed Operation Take Back America. Intent on tackling illegal immigration, cartels, and violent crime, the effort leans on the Department of Justice, harnessing resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Collaboration proved crucial in bringing Anderson to justice, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation joining forces with the Lakeland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth spearheaded the prosecution. “This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice,” stated the U.S. Attorney's Office, underscoring the serious tone and collaborative spirit that led to the 18-year sentencing verdict.
