Kanethia Tremeka Steele, 51, from Tampa, Florida, has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Her son, Kenneth Steele, 30, of Phoenix, Arizona, received a sentence of seven years and six months for the same offense. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “I applaud the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle this drug trafficking enterprise that had flooded our communities with deadly drugs. This is yet another successful prosecution by my office in fulfillment of the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the drug traffickers who have peddled poison on our streets for far too long. Substantial prison time awaits these offenders and any others who try to traffic drugs in the Northern District of Florida.”
According to court documents, over a period of three years Kanethia Steele acquired kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from suppliers based in Arizona on behalf of traffickers operating in Alachua, Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy counties. She packaged the methamphetamine herself and involved her son Kenneth in transporting multi-kilogram shipments concealed in luggage on commercial flights from Phoenix to Orlando. Following his mother’s instructions, Kenneth Steele made three such trips carrying more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine that was distributed throughout North Florida.
DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter commented: “Putting this mother and son enterprise out of business will make communities safer. These illicit substances—particularly methamphetamine—have the ability to destroy families.”
The convictions resulted from a joint investigation between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Former Assistant United States Attorney Corey Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Coody.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at mobilizing Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices serving as principal litigators under direction of the Attorney General. Additional information about public court documents can be found at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or through their official site at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
