The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has provided details about the criminal charges filed against two brothers in Port Richey. An investigation that involved undercover deputies culminated in the arrests of the two men, ages 29 and 33, in December. Undercover deputies reported that they had observed the 29-year-old brother selling drugs.
A captain at the sheriff’s office said that the authorization of two search warrants for the men’s homes accompanied their arrests. According to authorities, the searches produced a total of $400,000 in cash along with large amounts of hydromorphone, oxycodone, Suboxone, heroin and fentanyl. Deputies also seized firearms and ammunition. Both men now face multiple charges related to trafficking controlled substances and firearms violations.
Authorities have also aimed money laundering charges at the younger of the two brothers. According to investigators, he told deputies that he earned his income as a handyman and landlord. His arrest report contains information alleging that he deposited over $100,000 in his bank accounts over three years despite only having documentation that he earned $800 as a handyman during a three-month period. Some of his bank deposits appeared to be rent collected from his properties, but authorities suspect that he bought those homes with drug proceeds.
Prosecutors generally try to apply as many criminal charges as evidence can support. A person arrested during a drug trafficking investigation might want information from a criminal defense attorney before entering a plea regarding drug charges. Legal counsel might explain potential penalties and offer a comparison between expected outcomes between standing trial or pursuing a plea deal. Advice of this nature could help the client make an informed decision within a high-stakes environment. An attorney might strive to reduce charges by questioning weak evidence or unlawful conduct by law enforcement agents.