A prolific Central Florida drug dealer who was trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs learned his fate in a trial stemming from a Daytona Beach woman who died from a drug overdose.
After a two-day trial, a Volusia County jury found defendant Arthur Harris III guilty as charged of Trafficking in Fentanyl 28 grams or more, Trafficking in Cocaine 28-200 grams, Attempt to Sell Fentanyl, Attempt to Sell Cocaine, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Sell, Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sell and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device.
Harris now faces up to life in prison for the crimes.
On December 13, 2022, a Daytona Beach woman died from a drug overdose. Messages on the victim’s cell phone showed a purchase of heroin/fentanyl and crack cocaine was scheduled for earlier in the day with a seller going by the name of “Red Eye.”
Through investigative techniques, Daytona Beach Police detectives identified Harris as the seller and arrested him the following day.
After the defendant was taken into custody, detectives searched the bicycle he was riding and found several clear plastic bags containing a variety of drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine.
“The defendant was playing Russian roulette with people’s lives as he peddled deadly drugs in our community,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about Harris. “He ought to spend the rest of his life behind bars.”
Harris has other pending charges – First-Degree Murder by Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance and Trafficking in Fentanyl 14 to 28 grams – in reference to the death of the woman to whom he sold the deadly drugs.
The Central Florida case was investigated by the Daytona Beach Police Department. Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas successfully tried the case for the state. The Honorable Leah Case presided over the case and will pronounce sentence at a later date.
