Burnett sentenced to twenty years for trafficking fentanyl in Citrus County, FL

State Attorney's Office (SAO), Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Marion, Lake, Citrus, Sumter and Hernando counties

Inverness, Florida - In a brief court appearance on Friday, March 1, 2024, 27 year-old Aljuwan Malik Burnett, of Gainesville, Florida made a pleas of guilty and was sentenced to a mandatory minimum senence of 20 years with the Florida Department of Corrections on charges brought against him as the result of an undercover narcotics investigation by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO).

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Nicholas Caporicci and Kaitlyn Mannis, and investigated by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.

Burnett was arrested in Citrus County on May 3, 2023, after CCSO detectives determined that he was selling large quantities of illegal drugs, and had scheduled several undercover buys. During the first two controlled purchases, Burnett sold authorities 7 grams of fentanyl. The final purchase, of roughly 30 grams of fentanyl, was conducted on May 3, 2023. After this purchase, CCSO officials moved in to arrest Burnett - who ran from deputies, but was apprehended within a short time, within the vicinity of the drug sale.

Burnett was charged with three counts of trafficking in fentanyl, one count of selling fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a school, three counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and one count of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence. His bond was set at $112,000.

"Today's sentence marks a significant step towards protecting our community from illicit narcotics dealers like Burnett," said State attorney Bill Gladson with Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit Court. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to holding individuals accountable, particularly those who pose a deadly risk to our citizens. The outcome of this case sends a clear message: drug dealers will face severe consequences under the law."