Miami, FL – A Kissimmee man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in drug trafficking activities. Jardon Kianu Jackson, 34, pleaded guilty to charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl earlier this year.
Jackson’s illegal activities came to light following two significant drug sales in late 2024. On August 21, he sold 442.2 grams of methamphetamine in Sebastian, Florida. Just two months later, on October 22, he sold 53.02 grams of fentanyl in Fellsmere, Florida.
U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks handed down the sentence, as announced by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, along with officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division and several local sheriff’s offices.
The case, thoroughly investigated by the DEA and local law enforcement agencies, highlights the ongoing battle against synthetic opioids, a significant threat as outlined by the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is known for its potency, being up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Its lethal potential is alarming, with as little as two milligrams capable of being deadly.
The impact of fentanyl is far-reaching, affecting individuals across all demographics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States, with over 150 fatalities occurring daily. Florida has been particularly hard-hit, with more than 5,622 deaths attributed to fentanyl and its analogs in 2022 alone.
For more information on the dangers of fentanyl and the broader opioid crisis, resources are available from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the CDC, and the DEA.
