A Cuban citizen is among six individuals facing federal drug trafficking charges following the unsealing of two indictments by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. These charges are connected to the distribution of fentanyl in the Tampa area. The accused individual has been identified as Daniel Dayan Hernández-Hernández, aged 34.
Court documents reveal that the accused were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to distribute significant amounts of fentanyl across the region on multiple occasions, through separate plots, as also reported by local media.
If convicted on all counts, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and could potentially receive life imprisonment. The charges include distribution or possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and some of the accused also face charges for attempted distribution.
Besides Hernández-Hernández, the other five accused are Theophilus Santroy Williams, 43, from Tampa; Maurice Labrone Copeland, 43, from Tampa; Edward Verdi-Bruno, 33, currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution Coleman; Roshard Dawayne Lewis, 41, from Port Richey; and Journey Lynn Harding, 24, from Tampa.
The Cuban national had a prior arrest in Lee County, Florida, in December 2024, for failing to appear in court, with a bond set at $5,000.
The investigation was conducted by several federal and local agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Postal Inspection Service, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
This case is part of the operations of the Homeland Security Task Force Region 20, based in Tampa, established by President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14159 to combat criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational drug trafficking.
Federal prosecutors Jeff Chang and Samantha Newman are managing the case under the guidance of Attorney General Gregory W. Kehoe. Authorities have not released details on how the fentanyl was transported or if the two indictments are directly linked beyond operating within the same federal district.
Federal prosecutors emphasized that an indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Tampa Fentanyl Case
Who are the individuals charged in the Tampa fentanyl network?
The individuals charged include Daniel Dayan Hernández-Hernández, Theophilus Santroy Williams, Maurice Labrone Copeland, Edward Verdi-Bruno, Roshard Dawayne Lewis, and Journey Lynn Harding.
What are the potential penalties for those convicted in this case?
If found guilty on all charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison, with the possibility of life sentences.
What agencies are involved in the investigation?
The investigation involves multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the DEA, the Postal Inspection Service, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.