Armed Hillsborough County Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Randell Alexander Love (48, Hillsborough County) to 25 years in federal prison for possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentence consists of 20 years’ imprisonment on the fentanyl charge and a consecutive five-year sentence for the firearm offense. Love had pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023. 

According to court documents, Love was a prolific and violent fentanyl trafficker who carried a loaded firearm to conduct and protect his illicit drug business. Love used violence and intimidation to resolve disputes with his drug suppliers and customers, and to keep them in line. He harmed others to get his way.  For example, he punched a potential witness against him in the face, knocking her teeth out. The woman subsequently died of a fentanyl and heroin overdose. Love pistol-whipped one of his drug sources of supply and also battered a man with a metal pipe. Love trafficked enough fentanyl to kill 45,000 people.

During a traffic stop on October 5, 2021, deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a car driven by Love, and subsequently found and seized nearly an ounce of fentanyl and a loaded 9mm handgun.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.