Two men were taken into custody for drug trafficking in Central Florida.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives recently learned that Ronald Hess Jr., 55, and Sedrick Coleman, 42, were selling methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other illicit drugs. Deputies apprehended Hess and Coleman at their residence on the 10300 block of Oak Avenue in Tampa.
A search warrant served at the residence revealed the trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and MDMA.
Hess has already been convicted of eight felonies, including grand theft, cocaine trafficking, narcotics possession, and fraud.
Hess was charged with conspiracy to traffic in amphetamine (28 to 200 grams) (x2), trafficking in amphetamine (28 to 200 grams) (x2), trafficking in amphetamine (14 to 28 grams), delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance (x4), trafficking in fentanyl (28 grams or more), trafficking in phenethylamines (10 to 200 grams), possession of cocaine, and maintaining a public nuisance structure for drug activity.
Coleman was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, two counts of trafficking in amphetamine (28 to 200 grams), two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, seven counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, possession of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell or deliver.
“Let me be clear — if you’re peddling this poison in Hillsborough County, we are coming for you,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “These drugs don’t just ruin lives — they end them. Our detectives stopped these traffickers before their poison could claim another victim, and we’ll keep doing it, case after case, arrest after arrest. We will not give these dealers an inch in our community.”
The inquiry is still ongoing, according to local law enforcement.