Eleven Individuals Charged With Conspiracy To Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, And Cocaine

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging 11 individuals with federal drug trafficking offenses. Ahmad Rashad Weston, a/k/a “Blood,” (42, St. Petersburg); Charleston Shellie Long, a/k/a “Shellie,” (38, St. Petersburg); Shyron Deonta Givens, a/k/a “Ron,” (42, St. Petersburg); Charlie James McDuffy, Jr. (32, Clearwater); Teddy Terrell Strachan (38, Pembroke Pines); Ceveghnta Billvon Guyden, a/k/a “Chop,” (41, St. Petersburg); Quincy Alfonzo Turner, a/k/a “Chico,” (42, St. Petersburg); Justice Deshonna McLaurin, a/k/a “Jussy,” (24, St. Petersburg); Willie Carl McLaurin, a/k/a “Baldy,” (53, St. Petersburg); Ja’Vonta Willie McLaurin, a/k/a “Tay Tay,” (26, St. Petersburg); and Willie Carl McLaurin, Jr. (30, St. Petersburg) are charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. Weston and Turner, are also charged with distributing heroin and fentanyl. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, between on an unknown date, but no later than August 2018, and continuing through November 26, 2019, the defendants conspired to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.

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.

These cases were 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Waterman.