A Lakeland Man Found Guilty For $72,000 Worth Of Cocaine

LAKELAND, FL — A 44-year-old Lakeland man has recently been found guilty by a federal jury for illegally possessing fentanyl and planning to sell it, according to the U.S. State Attorney's Office.

Clifford Edward Albritton III showed up to an undisclosed drug deal location with his supplier, Donovan Holmes in 2020. Albritton had more than 300 grams of fentanyl and a scale hidden in his pants, investigators said. Both men were arrested on drug charges. Holmes, who testified at a trial in July 2020 after previously pleading guilty told authorities how Albritton was involved in a larger fentanyl conspiracy encompassing multiple dealers. Holmes has his sentencing hearing scheduled Oct. 28.

Polk County Sheriff's Office told Patch that fentanyl's street value is worth $180 per gram. Detectives said Albritton pleaded guilty of conspiracy to possess 400 grams of fentanyl, totaling about $72,000, with the intent to distribute it and possession of 40 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. Albritton faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and maximum up to life in federal prison, State Attorney's Office said.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2022. He had been indicted Aug. 4, 2020.

A federal jury has found Clifford Edward Albritton, III (44, Lakeland) guilty of conspiracy to possess 400 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it and possession of 40 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. Albritton faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 14, 2022. Albritton had been indicted on August 4, 2020.