LCSO investigation leads to guilty verdict in drug trafficking case

A Winter Garden man was found guilty Thursday of multiple drug trafficking charges and faced a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison.

The jury found 48-year-old Lamond Harp guilty of trafficking in fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Harp’s sentencing is scheduled to take place at a later date; however, his conviction for human trafficking is a mandatory minimum of 25 years.

“One gram alone can cause the death of nearly 500 people,” said Bill Gladson, United States Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. “Harp distributed 30 grams to officers, which had the potential to kill approximately 15,000 people. I commend the officers of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency for removing this harmful drug dealer from our streets.”

In 2021, investigators from the LCSO Special Investigations Unit, along with members of the Drug Enforcement Agency, conducted an undercover operation to target known drug traffickers distributing fentanyl.

Undercover agents were able to successfully identify Harp as a dealer and purchase a large quantity of fentanyl from him. During her investigation, Harp delivered two bags, each containing 100 suspected fentanyl pills.

Authorities were able to determine that the pills had markings that made it appear as if they were oxycodone hydrochloride, a Schedule II controlled substance also commonly referred to as Percocet. The evidence was collected and submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for official review.

On March 9, 2022, an FDLE laboratory analyst positively identified the pills as fentanyl. According to Florida State Statutes, four grams or more of fentanyl is considered an illegal amount. The pills weighed a total of 30 grams, which is significantly higher than the commercial quantity.

Harp was subsequently arrested on July 8, 2022 in Orange County on the warrant for this case.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kristalle Smoller.