Three individuals have been sentenced in federal court for their involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that operated between California and Florida. U.S. District Court Judge William F. Jung imposed sentences on Hopeton Goslin, 57, of St. Petersburg (20 years), Tony Marsh, 25, of Bradenton (10 years), and Colin Zirpoli, 46, of Sarasota (30 months).
Court documents and testimony revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Colin Zirpoli in February 2024 for suspected methamphetamine distribution. The investigation led agents to Zirpoli’s supplier, Elizabeth Poff, then to Tony Marsh, and ultimately to Hopeton Goslin. Search warrants executed at Goslin’s residence and storage unit resulted in the seizure of over 45 kilograms of methamphetamine.
All four—Goslin, Marsh, Poff, and Zirpoli—pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Elizabeth Poff was previously sentenced to 37 months in federal custody.
Further investigation identified Goslin’s supplier as Omar Pitter from San Diego, California—a key source city for narcotics distributed along the east coast. Agents determined that since 2023 Pitter had shipped cocaine and methamphetamine to Goslin using FedEx and UPS services. Testimony indicated these shipments included approximately 34 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 700 pounds of methamphetamine.
Omar Pitter was arrested alongside Keona Fulton and Ciarra Guss in California. Their case went to trial in September; on September 25, a federal jury convicted Pitter and Guss of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while convicting both Pitter and Fulton of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Sentencing for these defendants is scheduled for December.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from local law enforcement agencies including the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Petersburg Police Department, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman prosecuted the case.
“This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office,” according to a statement from officials involved with the prosecution.
