Tampa, FL – A Tampa man, Marquis Lamar McCullough, 39, has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of distributing fentanyl that led to the deaths of two individuals. U.S. District Judge William F. Jung handed down the sentence following a federal jury’s February 2025 conviction of McCullough on two counts of fentanyl distribution resulting in death and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The court ordered that the life sentences be served consecutively to the 30-year sentence for possession, alongside existing sentences McCullough is serving in the Florida Department of Corrections.
The case dates back to April 22, 2021, when Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a wellness check at K.K.’s residence, discovering him deceased with two baggies of fentanyl nearby. Investigating officers uncovered communications on K.K.’s cellphone with a woman who had assisted him in obtaining fentanyl after he was unable to acquire heroin from his usual source. The woman identified McCullough as her supplier and provided his contact information to detectives.
On May 6, 2021, N.M.’s son found his father dead in bed and notified authorities. Detectives discovered a baggie of fentanyl in N.M.’s wallet and traced his last communications to McCullough’s phone number, indicating he was N.M.’s supplier. Detectives attempted a controlled purchase of fentanyl using N.M.’s phone to arrange a meeting with McCullough. Upon arrival at the meeting site, McCullough fled when he received no response from N.M., but was soon apprehended by an arrest team.
The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that fentanyl use was the cause of death for both K.K. and N.M. Prior to these offenses, McCullough had previous convictions for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl, as well as aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, for which he is currently serving a seven-year sentence.
This case was thoroughly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Sinacore and Ross Roberts.
