A St. Pete Man Pleaded Guilty To Killing A Friend Of A Drug Accomplice

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A St. Petersburg man pleaded guilty Friday in a Tampa court to multiple charges that stemmed from a string of crimes in 2014, the U.S. State Attorney's Office announced.

Corey Small, 43, robbed a dry-cleaning business in St. Petersburg during 2014, according to the State Attorney's Office. The severity of his crimes escalated to drug deals and murder in 2018, officials said. Small made a deal with a local nightclub employee to sell cocaine for him at the club in 2018. Later that year, the victim, who was a friend of the employee became concerned and asked them to stop working at the club and to walk away from the drug business. Small argued with the vicim and then shot him four times, killing him, State Attorney's Office said. Small was later arrested and had a gun on him.

He has pleaded guilty to the following charges, according to the state attorney:

• Interfering with commerce by robbery
• Using a gun in furtherance of a crime of violence
• Conspiring to distribute cocaine and cocaine base
• Possessing a gun after being convicted of a felony offense
• Possessing, brandishing and shooting a gun during a drug trafficking crime, causing death by murder

Authorities said he faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. 11

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pinellas Park Police Department, the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.