Federal Jury Convicts Two Tampa Men of Distributing Fentanyl Which Caused the Death of a University of South Florida Student (DOJ)

Tampa, Florida -A federal jury has found Miguel Cintron (38, Tampa) and Darrius Gustafson (22, Tampa) guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Each faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Cintron, Gustafson, David Chudhabuddhi, and Marquis Trant distributed a lethal amount of fentanyl that resulted in the death of Victim-1. After Victim-1's death, all four individuals continued to distribute fentanyl to undercover deputies and detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

On April 10, 2024, all four were arrested and a search warrant was executed at Cintron's residence where law enforcement recovered more than seven kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and over $200,000 in cash.

Chudhabuddhi and Trant previously pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing on June 18, 2026.

This case was investigated by the University of South Florida Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.