A Georgia man and a Florida man have been federally charged with conspiring to possess heroin with intent to distribute, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Eric Turner, 30, of Georgia, and Jose Smith, 29, of Valrico, Florida, face the charges in connection with alleged heroin trafficking conducted over the darknet, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The case is based in Tampa, Florida.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the indictment. If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison, the Justice Department said. The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in federal prison.
Turner and Smith are accused of using darknet channels to carry out the alleged conspiracy, per the Justice Department. The charges carry sentencing exposure ranging from a 10-year floor to a potential lifetime behind bars.