MIAMI — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Florida, Southern), published as received.

MIAMI – On April 2, a man was sentenced to 220 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance on his drug trafficking crime.

On Sept. 15, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence of Sidney Arnel Flerme, 31, of Boynton Beach, Florida. Prior to executing the search warrant, law enforcement officers saw Flerme leave his residence. Upon noticing the law enforcement officers, Flerme threw a plastic bag onto the ground. Law enforcement officers arrested Flerme shortly after. Law enforcement officers recovered the bag and found inside approximately 26 capsules of fentanyl. Inside Flerme’s residence, law enforcement officers discovered close to 300 grams of fentanyl, multiple zip lock bags containing fentanyl, digital scales, empty capsules, a blender with fentanyl residue and a four-ton pill press. Law enforcement officers also located a loaded semi-automatic pistol on top of the kitchen counter next to the fentanyl and the rest of the stuff.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and Chief Joseph DeGiulio of the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD) made the announcement.

ATF Miami Field Office and BBPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ralston prosecuted it. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Stone and Mitchell Hyman handled asset forfeiture.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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-80001.

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