Miami Man Accused in Taped Drug Smuggling Sting in Tampa

Our client’s partner negotiated on recorded calls for several weeks to sell two kilograms of cocaine in Tampa to an informant and undercover agent before doing bigger business with them.  Our client and his partner drove from Miami to the Tampa hotel room where the exchange was to take place.  Our client brought in the duffle bag containing the two kilograms of cocaine and tossed it to the undercover agent who opened the bag and cut into the cocaine for testing.  It was all captured on video. In spite of the video, the defense turned down a plea offer that would have meant 15 years in prison. We argued that our client drove to Tampa because his partner’s license was suspended and our client believed there was going to be criminal activity taking place but not a drug transaction.  The jury acquitted our client.