A 41-year-old Ocala man was indicted this week for allegedly being caught multiple times with methamphetamine and fentanyl that he intended to distribute.
Earlier this week, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg of the Middle District of Florida announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Terrance Maurice Washington with six counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and fentanyl) with the intent to distribute.
According to the indictment, on five separate occasions – October 25, 2023; November 3, 2023; November 20, 2023; January 3, 2024; and January 25, 2024 – Washington allegedly possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Additionally, on November 8, 2023, Washington allegedly possessed 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
The indictment further alleges that Washington intended to distribute the controlled substances.
While an indictment is a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
If convicted on all counts, Washington faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. He is currently being detained in federal custody pending the resolution of this case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) investigated this case, and it will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.