Fort Myers, FL – In a significant legal development, U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Durand Dijuon Demetiu Colbert, a 35-year-old resident of Fort Myers, to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy. Colbert was convicted of conspiring with Esdras Joel Garcia De La Rosa, a 28-year-old from Los Angeles, to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl using the U.S. mail system.
Colbert pled guilty on September 18, 2024, to charges that included conspiracy with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The court documents revealed that Colbert received controlled substances from De La Rosa, which were then distributed locally. These substances were typically sent through the U.S. mail or other packaging carriers.
The case highlights a coordinated investigation conducted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The authorities executed a search warrant at Colbert's residence in Lee County on November 17, 2023, discovering approximately 1,700 fentanyl pills that had been mailed to him by De La Rosa.
De La Rosa had previously pled guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on April 16, 2025. The prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat drug trafficking and the distribution of illegal substances in the community. The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences associated with drug-related offenses.
