HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida woman known as the “candy lady” will spend the next six decades in prison following a major fentanyl trafficking conviction. Renee Stephens, 32, received a 60-year sentence on March 24, closing a criminal case that began with an undercover investigation into the distribution of lethal synthetic opioids.
The case against Stephens was spearheaded by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in August 2023. Over several months, undercover agents orchestrated controlled drug buys to build a case against her.
During one of these transactions, investigators noted a disturbing detail: Stephens was reportedly holding her infant child while handling the narcotics.
The investigation culminated in a raid on her residence on December 11, 2023. Inside the home, authorities discovered a significant stash of contraband, including 100 fentanyl pills and an additional 153 grams of bulk fentanyl.
They also found marijuana and 63 packages of marijuana-infused edibles specifically designed to mimic popular brands of chips and candy. This branding led to her local reputation as the “candy lady,” as she allegedly sold the look-alike treats to children in the neighborhood.
While Stephens managed the day-to-day sales, she didn’t work alone. Evidence revealed she collaborated with her husband to facilitate the deals while he was already behind bars. He was subsequently hit with his own set of fentanyl trafficking charges.
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The scale of the operation drew sharp condemnation from state officials.
At the time of the initial arrest, then-Attorney General Ashley Moody noted that the volume of fentanyl seized at the home was potent enough to kill nearly 80,000 people.
Following the sentencing, the current Florida Attorney General, James Uthmeier, underscored the gravity of the case. “This couple was not only profiting from pushing poison into our communities, but they were also doing it in the presence of a young, vulnerable child,” Uthmeier said.
Stephens’ 60-year term follows her formal conviction in December 2025, marking one of the state’s most significant recent wins in the ongoing effort to curb the fentanyl crisis.
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