3 Pinellas Drug Dealers Selling Out Of Motel Get Prison Sentences

TAMPA, FL — Two Clearwater residents and a St. Petersburg resident are headed to federal prison after being sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Court judges.

Judges Thomas Barber and Virginia Covington sentenced Marvin “MJ” Mitchell, 36, of St. Petersburg, to 15 years in federal prison, Christopher Hughes, 44, of Clearwater, to eight years in federal prison and Emma Leifer, 26, of Clearwater, to six years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin and crack cocaine.

According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between April and June 2019, Mitchell rented and operated several rooms at the Express Inn motel in Clearwater, and had Hughes and Leifer sell fentanyl, heroin and crack cocaine out of the rooms around the clock.

The sale of these narcotics led to dozens of drug overdoses at the Express Inn and the surrounding area, according to Pinellas County sheriff's deputies.

On June 17, 2019, law enforcement executed search warrants at the Express Inn and found fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, used syringes, cash and a drug ledger.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pinellas Park Police Department, with assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Pasco and Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office.