Highlands County drug dealer sentenced to prison

MIAMI - On April 25, a Highlands County drug dealer was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

On March 15, May 4, and May 17, 2023, Nichiren Shoshu Smith, aka Nick Drop, 48, of Sebring, Florida, sold cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine, in Sebring. On May 19, 2023, law enforcement officers discovered over a kilogram of cocaine, approximately 115.5 grams of cocaine base and more than $7,000 in Smith's residence. Smith has a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base in the Southern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division and Sheriff Paul Blackman of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon.

DEA Miami Field Division and HCSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter prosecuted it.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-14038.

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