Four Florida men indicted for alleged drug conspiracy in St. Petersburg

FLORIDA — Four Florida men have been indicted for a St. Petersburg drug conspiracy related to the distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Eric L. Lemon, 44, of New Port Richey, Eric Lekent Lemon, Jr., 20, of St. Petersburg, Dominic Giannantonio,46, of St. Petersburg, and Tryon Metteria Byrd IV, 43, of St. Petersburg, with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

If convicted on all counts, Lemon and Giannantonio face mandatory minimum penalties of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. If convicted on all counts, Lemon, Jr., and Byrd face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.

According to the indictment and statements made by prosecutors in open court, the defendants were allegedly operating a drug trafficking ring in St. Petersburg. The operation reportedly involved selling narcotics, specifically methamphetamine, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine, out of various residential homes.

During the investigation, undercover agents were able to purchase drugs from the defendants, said prosecutors.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.