A Summerland Key man was sentenced to 15 years in Florida state prison, followed by five years of probation, for trafficking cocaine following his conviction by a Monroe County jury.
Jose Manuel Carrillo Vergel, 36, was found guilty by a jury for trafficking cocaine after a one-day trial in Circuit Court before Judge Mark Wilson. The jury deliberated for 59 minutes before returning its verdict of guilty.
The case stemmed from a March 11, 2024 undercover operation conducted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division in the Stock Island area, during which detectives recovered a “brick” containing over one kilogram of cocaine, weighing 1,014.03 grams, according to laboratory analysis.
Carrillo Vergel arrived at the arranged location in a silver Ford passenger car and delivered the kilogram brick of cocaine in exchange for an offered $18,000 in cash before he was taken into custody without incident. Investigators estimated the cocaine had a street value of well over $35,000, underscoring the significant scale of the trafficking operation.
Assistant State Attorney Carter Reeves served as the lead prosecutor, assisted by Assistant State Attorney Madeleine Thompson.
Following the conviction, Judge Wilson sentenced Carrillo Vergel to 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections, which he must serve in full, followed by five years of probation. The court also ordered Carrillo Vergel to pay $12,840 in court costs, a $250,000 fine and $717 in costs of prosecution, and imposed the mandatory suspension of his driver’s license under Florida law.
“This was a well-coordinated investigation that removed a substantial quantity of cocaine from circulation in Monroe County,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “Drug trafficking destroys lives and families, and our office will continue to support law enforcement in holding those responsible fully accountable.”
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield praised both prosecutors and the Sheriff’s Office for their work and dedication.
“This case underscores the strength of our ongoing partnership with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office,” Mansfield said. “After a one-day trial and less than an hour of deliberation, the jury’s swift verdict and Judge Wilson’s sentence reflect the strength of the evidence and the skillful prosecution by ASAs Reeves and Thompson. This outcome ensures the defendant will serve every day of his 15-year term and reaffirms our commitment to keeping Monroe County safe from the dangers of drug trafficking.”
