Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
Three Miami men have been charged with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses linked to the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and other controlled substances from local storefronts. Antwan Bailey, 45, Eddie Gene Worthy Jr., 52, and Willie Weatherspoon, 52, all from Miami, face charges following an investigation by the FBI Miami Field Office with assistance from local law enforcement.
Indictment Details
A nine-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury charges all three men with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Specifically, the indictment alleges their involvement in distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl, 30 grams of heroin, and marijuana. These charges highlight the serious nature of the alleged drug operation.
Beyond the drug trafficking charges, Eddie Gene Worthy Jr. is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Antwan Bailey faces an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. These firearms offenses underscore the dangerous intersection of illegal drug distribution and weapon possession.
Operation Modus Operandi
Court records, including a previously filed criminal complaint, allege that Weatherspoon, Bailey, and Worthy conducted their drug trafficking activities through a restaurant and neighboring businesses. These establishments were located within a Miami retail plaza, serving as primary distribution points. The shared parking lot of the plaza was reportedly utilized to facilitate quick meetings and illicit deliveries, streamlining their narcotics operation.
Potential Penalties and Prosecuting Agencies
If convicted, Weatherspoon, Bailey, and Worthy face significant penalties, with the possibility of life in prison. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office.
The case is being investigated by FBI Miami, with invaluable assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the City of Miami Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Smukler for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Jennifer Burns and Jingh Chang of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment represents an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
