ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Joseph Marion, a 41-year-old man from St. Petersburg, has been sentenced to life in federal prison for a series of drug and sex trafficking offenses.
The court found Marion guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine; distributing fentanyl; distributing a mixture of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in serious bodily injury; and possessing fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it. The court also ordered Marion to forfeit $13,190 in drug proceeds seized during his arrest.
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Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Marion imported fentanyl and its analogues from China, processed them, and sold them to various street dealers.
One dealer testified to buying significant quantities of fentanyl from Marion daily for years, amounting to enough fentanyl to potentially kill over 70,000 people.
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In a 2019 incident, a woman overdosed on Marion’s fentanyl, mistaking it for heroin, and nearly died. Paramedics were able to save her life.
In addition to drug trafficking, Marion was also involved in sex trafficking. He often recruited women struggling with drug addiction, exploiting their vulnerability for profit.
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