Lakeland Man Faces Life Sentence for Fatal Fentanyl Distribution

Kenneth Bernard Graham, 67, of Lakeland, was arrested on charges of distributing fentanyl resulting in death.Photo byStock Image

By Kristy Tallman, June 30, 2024

Tampa, FL – Kenneth Bernard Graham, 67, of Lakeland, was arrested following an indictment charging him with distributing fentanyl resulting in death, announced United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. If convicted, Graham faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison.

According to the indictment, on September 10, 2022, Graham distributed a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl to an individual who subsequently died after ingesting it. Two days later, Graham was found in possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

The Lakeland Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Assistant United States Attorney David Pardo will prosecute the case.

By Kristy Tallman, June 30, 2024

The Republic News

Source: United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida

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