Florida man accused of dealing in fentanyl is arrested, held in jail

FLORIDA – A Tampa man accused of dealing in fentanyl has been arrested following the execution of a search warrant.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the arrest of Perry Ivory Wims, 37, of Tampa, on a criminal complaint charging possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Wims was arrested on March 9, 2023, and ordered detained pending the outcome of his case.

According to the complaint, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) learned Wims was allegedly selling fentanyl out of his room at the Garden View Motel at 2500 E. Busch Blvd. in Tampa, Florida. Based on that information, TPD obtained a warrant authorizing the search of Wims’ motel room.

Prior to the execution of the warrant, officers said they observed Wims exit his motel room with a pistol tucked in the waistband of his shorts. Additionally, TPD learned that Wims had a verbal altercation with unknown individuals shortly before the execution of the warrant, during which Wims pointed a gun at people with whom he was arguing, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO).

During the execution of the search warrant, officers reportedly located approximately 283 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl, a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol, a Zaviar Arms AR-style pistol, $3,705 in cash, and other suspected narcotics.

Wims previously received a 15-year sentence in federal court for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He completed serving that sentence on December 21, 2022.

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Tampa Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan will prosecute it.