A Central Florida registered sexual predator was recently found guilty of trafficking narcotics.
44-year-old Michael Allen Reams, a registered Sexual Predator, was adjudicated guilty of Trafficking in Heroin 28 grams or more, Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl 28 grams or more, Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Sell, Possession of a Place for Trafficking/Sale of a Controlled Substance, Child Neglect, Unlawful Use of a Two-way Device, and Possession of Paraphernalia.
Reams was ordered to remain in custody to await his sentencing hearing, which is set for August 18, 2025. Both the trafficking and conspiracy charges hold a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years under Florida law, but the defendant is facing Life in prison as a Habitual Felony Offender.
On August 3, 2021, detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit executed a search warrant at a residence off 1st Bass Street in Tavares, Florida, following an investigation into narcotics sales linked to a traffic stop on July 13, 2021, which involved five ounces of Fentanyl. Officers with the Tavares Police Department and Leesburg Police Department assisted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.
Upon searching the home, officials located the defendant inside, along with a female and an 8-year-old child. Reams told officials that he resides in one of the bedrooms in the home and that some of the vehicles on the property were his. While searching the property, authorities located various amounts of illicit narcotics, numerous cellphones, as well as narcotics paraphernalia and containers consistent with the packaging and distribution for sale of the drugs.
During a search of the defendant’s room, detectives located a safe that contained items connected to the proceeds of illicit narcotics. A search of an Oldsmobile on the property, which was delivered and controlled by Reams, contained a cooler with multiple items inside, including over 28 grams of heroin. Reams was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail.
During the defendant’s trial, in which he chose to represent himself, Forensic Analysts testified that Reams’ DNA was present on the evidence collected by law enforcement in this case. It was also stated during court that Reams would utilize the young child to carry bags containing the illicit narcotics, including deadly Fentanyl.
This Central Florida case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Kristalle Smoller.
