Tallahassee Sun

Darnell Devaughn Burnett, 40, of Pensacola, Florida, has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison following his guilty plea for possession with intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe and serve a critical role in removing addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Through their efforts, this defendant – a prior offender currently serving a probationary sentence – will face the significant consequences of his continued criminal conduct. We will continue to support our law enforcement partners as we work together to investigate and prosecute criminals distributing drugs in North Florida.”

On June 13, 2023, a state search warrant was executed at Burnett’s residence in Pensacola. During the search, law enforcement seized 829 grams of methamphetamine, 137.9 grams of heroin, small quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, a digital scale and bags used for drug distribution. Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing established that Burnett was on state probation for drug distribution charges at the time.

“This case is another example of how our strong law enforcement partnership enhances public safety in Pensacola,” said Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall. “We are committed to utilizing every resource available to hold accountable those responsible for the distribution of dangerous drugs in our community.”

“The DEA Miami Field Division remains committed to pursuing those who continue to put personal profits over the lives of our citizens by distributing this poison in our communities and hold them accountable for their actions,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter. “With the support and cooperation from our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, we will continue to succeed in our mission of keeping our Florida communities safe and healthy.”

Burnett’s prison sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release.

This sentencing resulted from a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven multi-agency approach. Additional information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices serving as principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for Northern District of Florida visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.