Life Sentence in Pasco Federal Drug Case

Ronald “Shine” Jiles of Zephyrhills was sentenced to life in prison last week for possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Jiles pleaded guilty in Tampa’s federal court in September.

According to court documents, in late 2009 and early 2010, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office used confidential informants to make controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Jiles’ residence. In May, 2010, Pasco County deputies and Drug Enforcement Administration agents executed a search warrant at the residence, finding 191 grams of crack cocaine intended for distribution.

Jiles’ criminal history, which includes eight prior felony drug convictions, was a basis for the imposition of the life sentence. Pursuant to the plea agreement with the government, it was recommended that Jiles receive some consideration at sentencing for his acceptance of responsibility and his agreement to assist law enforcement in other pending investigations and prosecutions. That agreement, though, was trumped by Jiles’ lengthy drug-related criminal history. In fact, his criminal history ultimately determined his sentence.

If Jiles had no criminal history, he would have faced a minimum of ten years in prison. If he had a single prior conviction for felony drug offense, the minimum prison term would have been twenty years. Because Jiles had two or more prior convictions for a felony drug offense, federal law required a mandatory life sentence.

The case was part of a multi-agency investigation into cocaine smuggling and distribution in and around eastern Pasco County and involved the Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.