Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Gregory Apicella (54, Fort Myers) to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in death and, for distributing methamphetamine. 

Apicella had pleaded guilty on February 26, 2019.

According to court documents, on December 29, 2017, and January 18, 2018, Apicella sold fentanyl to a 21-year-old male (J.Y.) from his home on South Entrada Drive in Fort Myers. J.Y. ingested the fentanyl and quickly died of an overdose. During the execution of a search warrant at Apicella’s house, deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office recovered a large quantity of fentanyl, paraphernalia, and methamphetamine from Apicella’s bedroom. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles Schmitz and Kyle Cohen.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Gregory Apicella (53, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and to causing the overdose death of “J.Y.,” a 21-year old man living in Fort Myers. Apicella faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, on January 18, 2018, Apicella sold fentanyl from his home on South Entrada Drive in Fort Myers. J.Y. used the fentanyl that Apicella had sold and died of an overdose. The next day, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (“LCSO”) conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Apicella. LCSO then executed a search warrant at Apicella’s residence and recovered approximately nine grams of fentanyl from a safe in the bedroom.     

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Cohen and Charles Schmitz.