Man with Brevard connections faces up to 40 years in federal prison after plea

A 33-year-old man who federal prosecutors said bought 250 grams of fentanyl from an undercover agent from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration faces up to 40 years in prison.

Sentencing for Dontrell Deshawn McCaskill, an Orlando resident with several arrests in Brevard, is set for Oct. 15 at the U.S. Middle District of Florida Court. McCaskill pleaded guilty to the charges this week during an appearance in federal court.

Brevard County sheriff’s agents — along with federal drug enforcement investigators — said McCaskill, who frequented a home in the Cocoa area, met with an undercover officer in 2023 to buy the prescription narcotic.

The deadly drug, typically used to treat patients coping with pain, has in recent years caused a wave of overdoses and has been used by dealers to lace other street drugs.

The drug deal took place in December, prosecutors said. Another drug buy was set later that month when McCaskill was arrested in another case and was taken into custody with 290 grams of fentanyl, prosecutors reported.

McCaskill also faces state charges for a Cocoa arrest involving a battery on a woman along with a charge of tampering with a witness, court records show.

The case was investigated by the sheriff’s office along with the Drug Enforcement Administration as part of the joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com . X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Man with Brevard connections faces up to 40 years in federal prison after plea