(Marion County, FL) On Tuesday, 33-year-old Rafael Then Jr. was found guilty by a jury of Trafficking in Methamphetamine. Judge Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky ordered Then into custody to await his sentencing hearing.

Then was arrested on July 31, 2023, by agents of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Ocala Police Department’s Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) at the conclusion of an undercover narcotics investigation conducted by UDEST and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Law Enforcement officers, through confidential measures, were able to schedule an undercover buy. 

An undercover officer met Then at a business location in the Marion Oaks community. After arriving at the scheduled place, a purple in color Dodge Charger, being driven by Then arrived. Then exited the vehicle and entered the passenger side of the undercover officer’s vehicle.

During the controlled purchase, Then sold the undercover officer a large quantity of Methamphetamine. After completing the transaction, officials took possession of the purchased drugs and secured it into evidence. The evidence was later sent off to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration’s laboratory for chemical analysis and yielded a positive result for methamphetamine. Then was subsequently arrested and charged in this case.

The State Attorney’s Office appreciates the collaboration and dedication of the law enforcement officials involved in the investigation. 

The successful prosecution of this case was a result of the diligent efforts of Assistant State Attorney Samuel Armstrong.

Published on 08/21/2025.