On January 17, 2024 following a jury trial, defendant Jeffrey Keith Mclendon was found guilty as charged for Trafficking in Dangerous Fentanyl over 28 grams, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving Under the Influence.
On December 26, 2022, the defendant was the sole occupant of a motor vehicle on the side of Interstate 10, experiencing signs of apparent fentanyl overdose. Within the center console was 28.23 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl. An item of drug paraphernalia was located in the driver’s side floor board bearing evidence of recent use. Testing of the defendant’s blood revealed that he had ingested fentanyl, consistent with the large quantity of fentanyl recovered from his vehicle.
The Defendant was sentenced to 30 years in state prison, with 25 years as a minimum mandatory prison sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Sean Crisafulli and Assistant State Attorney Jakob Trojbom.
