(Citrus County, FL) Today, seven-time convicted felon 41-year-old Heather Lynne Duarte-Wright was sentenced to 27 years in the Florida Department of Corrections for Trafficking in Fentanyl and Possession of Paraphernalia. Duarte-Wright was found guilty by a jury after her trial back in January of this year.

“Fentanyl continues to claim lives in our community, making it crucial for our office to prosecute fentanyl traffickers and hold them accountable for the crippling and deadly impacts they’ve inflicted on our community,” said Walter Forgie, Chief Assistant State Attorney.

On August 10, 2023, a Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputy conducted a traffic stop on a motor scooter that did not have a license plate attached. Once stopped, both the driver of the scooter and the passenger, later identified as Duarte-Wright, were asked to step off. When the defendant stepped off the scooter, the law enforcement officer noticed a black zippered pouch sticking halfway from under the bottom of her shirt.

When questioned as to what the item was, Duarte-Wright admitted to the officer that it was paraphernalia and a little bit of Fentanyl. At that time, the CCSO deputy removed the black pouch from the defendant’s person while securing Duarte-Wright. Inside the zippered pouch, a clear plastic baggy containing a white substance and hypodermic needles were located.

The white substance was then field tested and yielded positive results for Fentanyl, weighing approximately 20 grams. Additional testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed the presence of Fentanyl.

Assistant State Attorneys Patsey Jacobs and Elizabeth Colombrito successfully prosecuted this case.

Published on 03/31/2025.