A Lakeland man has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle handed down the sentence to Moreno Fenelus, 44, who entered his plea on March 28, 2025.
Court documents show that between January and March 2023, Fenelus sold various narcotics—including cocaine, para-fluorofentanyl (an analogue of fentanyl), fentanyl mixtures, and methamphetamine—to a confidential source working with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. In July 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fenelus’s residence and found cocaine, para-fluorofentanyl, six firearms, and various ammunition belonging to him. At the time of the search, Fenelus had already been convicted of a felony offense, making it illegal for him to possess firearms or ammunition under federal law.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts prosecuted the case.
According to the Department of Justice, this prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering cooperation among law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building trust in communities, supporting violence prevention efforts by local organizations, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
“This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.”
“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.”
