Kanethia Tremeka Steele, 51, from Tampa, Florida, and her son Kenneth Steele, 30, from Phoenix, Arizona, have pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “The importation and distribution of addictive and deadly narcotics like methamphetamine is a scourge on large and small communities throughout North Florida. My office is committed to fulfill the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by identifying and aggressively prosecuting drug traffickers like this mother and son who would profit from poisoning our fellow citizens. The elimination of this drug trafficking enterprise is the result of the incredible work of our law enforcement partners.”
According to court documents, Kanethia Steele obtained large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from suppliers in Arizona over a period of three years. These drugs were intended for distribution by traffickers in several counties in North Florida. Kenneth Steele assisted his mother by transporting shipments concealed in luggage on flights from Phoenix to Orlando. He transported over 40 pounds of methamphetamine on three occasions.
Kenneth Steele’s sentencing is set for July 22 at 2:00 p.m., while Kanethia Steele will be sentenced on September 30 at 3:00 p.m., both before Chief United States District Judge Alan C. Winsor at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville.
The convictions resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office. The case is prosecuted by Former Assistant United States Attorney Corey Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Coody.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at eliminating illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and violent crime perpetrators using resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one among 94 offices under the direction of the Attorney General that serve as principal litigators for the nation.
For more information about public court documents or about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit their official website.
