Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Armed Fentanyl Trafficking Charges

TAMPA, FL — United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Randell Love, 48, of Tampa has pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm to be used in a drug trafficking crime.

Love faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the fentanyl charge, and a minimum mandatory term of five years up to life in prison for the firearms offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on Oct. 5, 2021, deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a car driven by Love, a 14-time convicted felon, because it had a license plate from a different vehicle and because Love’s driver's license was suspended.

After stopping the vehicle, Love hid a loaded 9 mm handgun with his male passenger, and approximately 26 grams of fentanyl with his female passenger. Deputies subsequently recovered the drugs and the firearm, and located a drug ledger in Love’s possession.

Further investigation revealed that Love had received approximately 5 ounces of fentanyl at a time from his suppliers and sold the drugs to approximately 25 customers per day, according to court documents.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.