CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – Heather Lynne Duarte-Wright, 41, a seven-time convicted felon, has been sentenced to 27 years in the Florida Department of Corrections for Trafficking in Fentanyl and Possession of Paraphernalia.
Duarte-Wright was found guilty by a jury following her trial in January of this year.
“Fentanyl continues to claim lives in our community, making it crucial for our office to prosecute fentanyl traffickers and hold them accountable for the crippling and deadly impacts they’ve inflicted on our community,” said Walter Forgie, Chief Assistant State Attorney.
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The case originated on August 10, 2023, when a Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputy conducted a traffic stop on a motor scooter that was operating without a license plate.
During the stop, both the driver and the passenger, later identified as Duarte-Wright, were asked to step off the scooter. When Duarte-Wright exited the scooter, the deputy observed a black zippered pouch partially concealed under her shirt.
When questioned about the item, Duarte-Wright admitted to the officer that it contained paraphernalia and a small amount of Fentanyl. The deputy then removed the pouch from Duarte-Wright’s possession. Inside, they found a clear plastic bag containing a white substance and hypodermic needles.
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The white substance was field-tested and yielded positive results for Fentanyl, weighing approximately 20 grams. Further testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed the substance to be Fentanyl.
Assistant State Attorneys Patsey Jacobs and Elizabeth Colombrito successfully prosecuted the case.
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