On April 27, 2023, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested Ricardo Guyton Jr., a six-time convicted felon, for armed trafficking in fentanyl, felon in possession of firearm/ammunition, and child neglect.
Opioid Overdose Investigations (OOI) detectives conducted a two-week investigation into Guyton's activities, leading to his arrest. During the operation, Guyton was found to be in possession of 14 grams of fentanyl -- enough to kill 7,000 people -- and a loaded Glock pistol, which was reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle in 2021 within Temple Terrace Police Department's jurisdiction.
The most concerning aspect of this arrest was the presence of Guyton's four-month-old infant in the vehicle, leading to a charge of child neglect. The infant was released to a family member.
Sheriff Chad Chronister reiterated his concern about the dangers of fentanyl and his commitment to getting this drug off the streets.
"Fentanyl is one of the deadliest drugs on the market, and those who choose to distribute it will be held accountable," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "The fact that a convicted felon like Guyton had access to a loaded firearm while trafficking fentanyl is extremely alarming. We will continue to work to protect our communities from the dangers posed by fentanyl and other illegal drugs."
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is urging anyone with information about drug-related activity to call 813-247-8200. Further charges are pending against Guyton as the investigation is ongoing.
