Middle District of Florida

www.justice.gov/usao/flm

For Immediate Release

June 28, 2012

Robert E. O'Neill, United States Attorney

Contact: William Daniels
(813) 274-6388

Pines Drug Dealer Sentenced to Ten Years

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Tyrone Flowers (49, Seffner) to ten years in federal prison for distributing crack cocaine. He was also sentenced to six years of supervised release, following his release from prison. Flowers pled guilty on December 19, 2011.

According to court documents, the HCSO, along with ATF, initiated the "Pines Operation" in an effort to combat an ongoing drug and gang epidemic in a pair of apartment complexes located in Tampa. Approximately 52 individuals were arrested on state or federal charges as a result of the operation. During the course of the operation, Flowers sold crack cocaine to an undercover law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, Flowers had at least ten prior state narcotics convictions.

This case was investigated by ATF and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.

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