Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Magdiel Carmona (27, Tampa) with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, four counts of possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, four counts of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and six counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Carmona faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the each of the drug counts, a minimum of five years, and up to life, for each count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and up to 10 years in prison for each count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The indictment also notifies Carmona that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms recovered in this investigation, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, from August 10, 2021, through March 6, 2022, Carmona conspired with others to sell or deliver narcotics. During the conspiracy, Carmona possessed multiple firearms. Carmona had previously been convicted of multiple felonies – to include robberies – and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
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.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.