Florida Man With Over 4 Pounds Of Fentanyl Gets Life In Prison

A Florida man who, when arrested, had over 4 pounds of Fentanyl in his possession, has been sentenced to life in prison. Late last week, a Marion

A Florida man who, when arrested, had over 4 pounds of Fentanyl in his possession, has been sentenced to life in prison.

Late last week, a Marion County jury found Noah Steven Francis, 27, guilty on all charges, and Francis was sentenced to life in prison.

In January of 2021, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) began an investigation into Francis, who was suspected to be distributing Fentanyl and other drugs in Summerfield, Florida.

During the investigation, agents were able to obtain search warrants for locations controlled by Francis. In February of 2021, UDEST coordinated an operation and served the search warrants with the assistance of SWAT teams from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department.

As a result of the operation, agents arrested Francis for drug trafficking, child neglect, and weapons-related charges. Agents also seized firearms, cash, a significant amount of Fentanyl, and other drugs.

During the operation, UDEST seized the following:

Fentanyl: 4.1 pounds
Methamphetamine: 80 grams
Cocaine: 70 grams
Marijuana: 1,085 grams
Three guns, high-capacity magazines, and ammunition
Over $16,000 in U.S. currency

The influx of Fentanyl contributed to the increased numbers of overdoses and continues to be a focus of UDEST. Fentanyl is a highly addictive and extremely lethal substance that is contributing to the rise in overdose deaths, not only in Marion County but also across the country.