Suncoast cocaine trafficker gets 10 years in prison

State Attorney Amira Fox

Christian Carrasquillo, of Hialeah, has been adjudicated guilty, designated a Habitual Felony Offender (HFO), and sentenced to 10 years in prison, for Trafficking in Cocaine. The prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of drug offender probation as an HFO. He must also pay a $50,000 statutory fine.

The defendant pled open to the court in Charlotte County. Defendants can choose to plea to the court for sentencing and give up their right to a trial. This is not a plea agreement. The defendant was given credit time served for Possession of Paraphernalia and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.

Assistant State Attorney Caitlin Sorenson prosecuted the case.

On March 21, 2023, a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper conducted a traffic stop on I-75 in Charlotte County, after the defendant drove by at close to 100 mph, where the speed limit is posted as 70 mph. When the defendant provided his license to the FHP Trooper, he appeared visibly nervous.

Upon running the license, the Trooper discovered the defendant had his license suspended indefinitely two years prior, for failure to appear for traffic violations, in Broward County. There was also a warrant for his arrest out of Broward County for a violation of probation in a drug case. The Trooper was also informed that the defendant was presumed to be armed and dangerous. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and an additional FHP Trooper were called for back-up.

A Deputy and another Trooper with his K9 partner arrived and the car was approached again. The defendant and a female passenger said there was nothing illegal in the car when asked but refused a search of the vehicle.

FHP K9 Thor was deployed and alerted to drugs in the car. A search of the vehicle uncovered a container of cocaine in the center console. There was a backpack behind the driver’s seat with a press machine with cocaine residue and a napkin containing 40 grams of cocaine. A small digital scale that was covered in cocaine was also found. The defendant was interviewed and took responsibility for the drugs but did not admit to the quantity found. He also stated that he used the press machine to mix cocaine and crack together.