4 Tampa men indicted on fentanyl charges after USF student dies of overdose

Four Tampa men have been charged with federal counts of fentanyl distribution after a University of South Florida student fatally overdosed on the drug earlier this year, law enforcement officials announced Thursday.

The four — Miguel Cintron, Marquise Trant, David Chudhabuddhi, and Darrius Gustafson — are charged with distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Cintron was also charged with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and possessing a gun as a felon.

If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum 20 years in prison, and could see up to life sentences at maximum.

After the student’s death in February, undercover detectives and deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office purchased fentanyl from the men, according U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg of the Middle District of Florida in Tampa.

The investigation was a joint effort between the sheriff’s office, USF police, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County medical examiner’s office.

“These men had enough fentanyl to kill 1,500 people here in Hillsborough County,” said Sheriff’s Office Col. Chris Rule.

Law enforcement seized 482 grams of fentanyl, several kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, 205 grams of ecstasy, two pounds of marijuana, several stolen guns and more than $216,000 as part of the raid on Cintron’s residence, according to Rule.

The fentanyl recovered was in the form of 1,200 pressed pills — which Handberg said meant they could be made to resemble any type of pill. According to Handberg, drug dealers often manufacture pills containing fentanyl and label them as another type of medication, which can lead to overdose and death.

Cintron and Gustafson pleaded not guilty to all counts in a court hearing Monday. Trant and Chudabuddhi have not yet entered pleas, according to court records.

Rule described Cintron as the “mastermind” of the drug ring and said he was a “documented Nine Trey Gang member.” The Nine Trey Gangster Bloods are a street gang based in New York that operates across the East Coast.

“One pill can kill,” Handberg said. “You’re making a choice, and it could possibly be a deadly choice because fentanyl is unforgiving.”