Member Of Sanford Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced To Federal Prison

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp today sentenced Antonio Chandler (40, Sanford) to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. Chandler had pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy on June 4, 2020. His co-conspirators, Dondi Kentrail Freeney and Telvin Williams, pleaded guilty in June 2019. They were sentenced to seven years and six months and five years in federal prison, respectively. A fourth conspirator, Benjamin Robinson, was found guilty after a jury trial on August 9, 2019. He was sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison.  

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial and during court hearings, in January 2016, Chandler and his co-conspirators arranged for multiple shipments of cocaine to be sent through the United States Postal Service (USPS) from California. During the investigation, the FBI and USPS seized three of the packages, each containing two kilograms of cocaine hidden inside tubs of protein powder. Law enforcement was also identified four additional shipments that the conspirators had successfully shipped through the mail. In 2016, during the month of January Robinson and his co-conspirators were responsible for shipping 14 kilograms of cocaine through the mail, estimated to be worth a total $490,000.     

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Lake County Sherriff’s Office, and the Volusia Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.