Looks like the “park view” wasn’t enough to keep this Golden Gate couple out of hot water. Already behind bars since August for enough fentanyl to wipe out a small town, Maikel Raul Felipe Bernal and Yusbelkin Clemente-Vega now face additional charges that’ll make their stay even less comfortable.
The pair thought setting up shop across from Aaron Lutz Park was a brilliant business strategy. However, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) wasn’t impressed. They found the couple’s stash of fentanyl, meth, and cash during a search warrant, promptly landing them in jail.
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Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, who has zero tolerance for fentanyl dealers, made it clear: “Our message to drug traffickers is clear: There is no place for fentanyl – or you – in Collier County.”
Undercover CCSO detectives had already purchased over 450 deceptively marked fentanyl pills from the couple, adding insult to injury. Judge Elizabeth Krier denied them bond.
Now, they’re facing a whole slew of new trafficking charges, making their legal troubles even more mountainous.
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“These pills were disguised to look like legitimate prescription pills, which is an alarming nationwide trend,” Sheriff Rambosk said. “I’ve said this before and I’m going to keep saying it, ‘If you didn’t get it from a pharmacy you should not ingest it. The consequences can be fatal.”
Just 2 mg of fentanyl – equal to a few grains of table salt – is a lethal dosage for most people, and even exposure can cause a fatal reaction, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
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