TAMPA, Fla. – A Tennessee man has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine into Florida. Nicolas Garcia Hernandez, 27, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle to 135 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Garcia Hernandez, who illegally entered the United States from Mexico around 2020, made two trips from Tennessee to Florida to deliver large quantities of methamphetamine.
READ: One Lakeland Swan Thief In Custody, Search Continues For Second Suspect
In December 2023, he delivered nearly three kilograms of the drug to an informant. In May 2024, he was intercepted by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper on I-75 in Hillsborough County while en route to make another delivery.
After a Florida Highway Patrol canine alerted to the presence of drugs in his vehicle, Garcia Hernandez fled on foot across the interstate, leading troopers on a dangerous chase through oncoming traffic.
He was eventually apprehended, and troopers discovered 5.9 kilograms of methamphetamine in his vehicle and additional methamphetamine in his wallet.
READ :Wanted Woman: Hillsborough Deputies Seek Public’s Help In Locating Sade Jackson
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bradenton Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
