Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Arcadia-Based Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced To Over Seventeen Years In Prison
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich today sentenced Antonio Chavez (34, Arcadia), a/k/a “Cino,” to 17 ½ years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and for possessing over 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. The Court also ordered him to forfeit a Ford F250 truck that had been used to facilitate the offenses. In addition, $37,182 in cash was administratively forfeited as proceeds of the conspiracy.
Chavez pleaded guilty on May 4, 2017. His co-defendants, Johnny Carter and Adam McCumber, were previously sentenced to 15 years and 3 years and 10 months in prison, respectively.
According to court documents, Chavez was a supplier of methamphetamine in DeSoto and Manatee counties. In the fall of 2015, he arranged for the sale of methamphetamine to a confidential source on two occasions. Carter delivered the methamphetamine in the first sale, and McCumber made the delivery in the second sale. After a third deal to deliver a pound of methamphetamine in Myakka City (Manatee County) was agreed upon, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Chavez’s house in Arcadia. Inside, agents found over 700 grams of methamphetamine and $37,000 in cash.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Lakeland Police Department, the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Plant City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.