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Date: 01-23-2023
Case Style:
United States of America v. Michael James Staton
Case Number: 8:22-cr-00107
Judge: Charlene Edwards Honeywell
Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Hillsborough County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Tampa
Defendant's Attorney: Andrew Shein
Description: Tampa, Florida criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
On July 18, 2020, Michael James Staton, age 30, from Wachula, was serving the supervision portion of a sentence stemming from a Florida felony conviction. The supervision conditions included a curfew of 10:00 PM. On that same day, a law enforcement officer who was aware that Staton was under state supervision and subject to curfew observed Staton drive into a gas station. The officer approached and detained Staton to investigate the curfew violation, conducted a pat-down search of Staton and discovered $2,248 and marijuana on Staton’s person. As other officers arrived on the scene, one officer observed a firearm in plain view on the floorboard of Staton’s car. The officers searched Staton’s car and found 131 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms, $10,160 in a safe, two cellphones, and 889 grams of marijuana.
A few months later, on October 27, 2020, Staton and a co-conspirator sold 28 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. On October 8, 2020, Staton and his co-conspirator sold an additional 56 grams of methamphetamine
This case was investigated by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. Agencies involved in this OCDETF operation include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, and the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
21:846=CD.F CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
(1)
21:841B=CD.F CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE
(2)
21:841B=CD.F CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE
(2)
21:841A=CD.F CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE
(5-6)
Outcome: Imprisonment: 130 months. This term consists of a 130 month term as to Counts One, Two, Five, and Six; and a 60 month term as to Count Three, all such terms to run concurrently. Supervised Release: 4 years. This term consists of a 4 year term as to Counts One, Two, Five, and Six; and a 3 year term as to Count Three, all such terms to run concurrently. Fine is waived. Special Assessment: $500.00. This obligation is to be paid immediately.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: