A Sarasota man, Esteban Perez Jr., 25, has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison after pleading no contest to drug trafficking charges in Collier County.
The quantity of fentanyl he brought into the county was enough to cause potentially devastating consequences, as authorities estimated it could have been lethal to almost 60,000 people.
Perez was found guilty on Monday after entering a plea of no contest to trafficking in fentanyl and other narcotics-related charges, including amphetamine trafficking.
Perez was arrested in November 2023 when a Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputy stopped his vehicle in North Naples. A search uncovered 987 fentanyl pills weighing 119.2 grams, along with cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.
“This sentence sends a clear message that Collier County has zero tolerance for fentanyl and for the people who traffic it,” Collier County Sheriff Rambosk said. “If you bring this poison into Collier County, you will be arrested and you will be held accountable.”
Rambosk has actively combated the fentanyl crisis in Collier County through his Laced & Lethal campaign, which focuses on public education about the dangerous drug while dedicating enforcement resources to target those involved in its sale and distribution.
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