A 24-year-old man is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl that he made with a pill press in his home.
O’Neil Clifton Gordon pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl on Tuesday, November 14.
According to a plea agreement, on March 10, 2022, law enforcement officials observed what they believed to be a drug exchange between Gordon and one of his known associates.
As Gordon left the exchange, he was pursued by deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, who turned enabled their lights and sirens in an attempt to stop him. Gordon fled in his vehicle and eventually escaped police, according to court records.
The day after the incident, a felony arrest warrant was issued for Gordon.
Over a month later, on April 28, 2022, OCSO deputies saw Gordon driving down Colonial Drive in Orlando. The deputies realized that Gordon had an active warrant and began conducting surveillance on his vehicle.
Gordon parked outside of a local barbershop where, according to OCSO, he was observed conducting a “hand-to-hand drug exchange,” according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
After the exchange, Gordon left the parking lot, got in his car, and drove away from the scene. Deputies followed Gordon until he pulled into his neighborhood. After they enabled their lights and sirens in an attempt to arrest him, Gordon exited his vehicle and began running.
He was apprehended by deputies who recovered $830 from his pockets. Inside his vehicle, deputies located a Glock firearm, an extended magazine, and 21 rounds of ammunition.
They also recovered a backpack that was filled with 14.46 grams of fentanyl, a scale, plastic baggies, and other narcotics.
After obtaining a search warrant for Gordon’s room, deputies recovered additional ammunition, narcotics, and a pill press.
According to court records, law enforcement authorities also obtained a warrant to search Gordon’s Instagram account.
On the account, they located photographs of Gordon with a firearm and conversations regarding the sale of cocaine, pills, and marijuana.
Gordon faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.