TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa drug dealer known on the streets as “Slim” is facing a mandatory life sentence after a federal jury found him guilty of distributing fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of two Hillsborough County residents.
Marquis Lamar McCullough, 39, was convicted on two counts of fentanyl distribution resulting in death, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, concluding a trial that exposed the tragic consequences of the opioid crisis.
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According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, McCullough’s deadly dealings came to light following two separate overdose deaths in 2021. On April 22, 2021, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies found K.K. dead in his apartment during a wellness check. Two baggies containing suspected fentanyl were discovered at the scene. An investigation into K.K.’s cellphone revealed communications with a woman who had helped him purchase fentanyl the night before. The woman, a heroin user herself, told detectives that K.K. had asked her to obtain the drugs from her supplier, “Slim,” in exchange for a portion of the purchase.
Just days later, on May 6, 2021, the son of N.M. discovered his father dead in his bed. Deputies found a baggie containing a suspected opioid substance in N.M.’s wallet. A detective reviewing N.M.’s phone records recognized that the last three calls were to McCullough’s number, identifying “Slim” as N.M.’s supplier.
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HCSO detectives arranged controlled purchases of fentanyl from McCullough, confirming his identity. When detectives attempted to make another purchase using N.M.’s phone, McCullough tried calling, and when there was no anwser, he fled the area. He was later apprehended after a vehicle pursuit.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory confirmed that the substances found at both victims’ residences, as well as the drugs purchased from McCullough, all contained fentanyl. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that fentanyl was the cause of death for both K.K. and N.M.
McCullough, who has a previous conviction for cocaine trafficking, now faces a mandatory life sentence.
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