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By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. – Two conspirators of a drug-dealing operation in Daytona Beach that distributed cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin for at least eight months until they got busted were shipped off to prison back in June.
U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger sentenced Matthew Zachariah Humphrey, 26, to 11 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that offense.
Burger sentenced Humphrey’s co-conspirator, 32-year-old Janee Reve Najee Kelly to 8 years and 1 month in federal prison for the same charges.
Humphrey and Kelly had pleaded guilty on Feb. 11, 2021, and Dec. 8, 2020, respectively.
According to court documents, Humphrey, Kelly, and others worked together to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in the Daytona Beach area. On June 17, 2020, both Kelly and Humphrey were arrested in Daytona Beach.
At the time of their arrests, Humphrey possessed cocaine, fentanyl, and a stolen, loaded firearm.
Kelly possessed fentanyl and a firearm as well.
Collectively, Humprey and Kelly possessed more than 88 grams of fentanyl when they were arrested.
Collectively, Humprey and Kelly possessed more than 88 grams of fentanyl when they were arrested.
Humprey and Kelly were just the first wave of drug indictments handed down by a federal grand jury in Orlando.
The second indictment charges the following seven individuals with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin:
• Maxwell Garvice Johnson, 29, of Ormond Beach;
• Jeremy Rashan Tarrand, 39, of Mascotte;
Robert Lee Hamilton, Jr. 36, of Daytona Beach:
• Dawnte Dequite Benjamin Davis, 22, of Daytona Beach;
• Felicia Mae Riley, 35, of Edgewater;
• Jeniver Sebastian Scott, Jr. 32, of Daytona Beach;
• Sharrod Solomon Favors, 29, of Daytona Beach with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin.
If convicted, each faces a minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison for each count. Humphrey and Kelly each face an additional 5 years imprisonment for possessing firearms in furtherance of the offense. The indictment also notifies each defendant that the United States intends to forfeit traceable proceeds of the offense.
According to the first indictment, beginning on an unknown date, but no later than December 6, 2019, and continuing through July 29, 2020, Humphrey and Kelly conspired with each other and others to distribute controlled substances, including 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl.
According to the second indictment, beginning on an unknown date, but no later than April 3, 2020, and continuing through July 29, 2020, Johnson, Tarrand, Hamilton, Davis, Riley, Scott, and Favors conspired to distribute controlled substances, including 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, and 500 grams of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
The government's case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Did You Know? This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the US using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.