Convicted Felon Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Offenses

Tallahassee, Florida - Antonio Carlos Shine, 38, of Dania, Florida, was sentenced to 17 years and five months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and marijuana. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "This serial felon's lengthy criminal record amply demonstrates that the only way we can prevent him from continuing to terrorize our communities with his criminality is by keeping him incarcerated. This successful prosecution and long prison sentence should be a warning to other would-be drug peddlers that the Northern District of Florida has zero-tolerance for these crimes."

Court documents reflect that in August 2024, law enforcement officers intercepted a package containing nearly two pounds of methamphetamine addressed to a Tallahassee residence. Law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery at the residence, and the defendant took possession of the package and brought it into the residence. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence. The defendant did not answer the door, requiring officers to breach the door, after which the defendant fled through the back door with the package of methamphetamine, where he was immediately taken into custody. Law enforcement searched the residence and located a digital scale, various narcotics paraphernalia, and 44 grams of marijuana packaged for sale. The defendant had previously been convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell/deliver, and had served several prior terms in Florida state prison.

"This significant prison sentencing should serve as a deterrent to anyone attempting to use the US Mail for narcotics trafficking" said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Miami Division. "The Postal Inspection Service will continue to work with the Tallahassee Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners to keep these poisons out of our communities."

Shine's term of imprisonment will be followed by ten years of supervised release. Thus, once Shine is released from prison, if Shine were to violate any conditions of his release, he could potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.