(Marion County, FL) Yesterday, 42-year-old Ahmar Rashard Porter was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Willard Pope to life in prison, after convictions at trial on twenty counts of drug trafficking-related offenses. The trial, which commenced on April 29, 2024, concluded with convictions against both Porter and his co-defendant, 47-year-old Michael Lawrence Robinson, who was sentenced to thirty years in prison.
Porter was charged with two counts of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin with Intent to Sell or Deliver, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell or Deliver, Possession of a Place for Trafficking or Sale of a Controlled Substance, Trafficking in Heroin, Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sell or Deliver, Sale of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Use of a Two-way Communications Device to Facilitate a Felony, and various Conspiracy Charges. One of the counts for Trafficking in Methamphetamine was for Trafficking in Methamphetamine while Armed, for which Porter received the maximum sentence of Life in prison.
“Drug trafficking leads to widespread addiction, broken families, and increased crime rates,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “Our office will continue to diligently prosecute drug traffickers in an attempt to remove them from our communities.”
The trial stemmed from an investigation initiated in 2020 by the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), comprising officers from the Ocala Police Department and deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The probe targeted suspected drug trafficking activities involving Porter, Robinson, and others, including Lloyd Kinsler, who previously entered a plea agreement and received a twenty-year sentence.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Porter and Robinson collaborated with other individuals to traffic narcotics, utilizing various residences in Marion County for the storage, sale, and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. Investigators utilized court-authorized interceptions, providing crucial insights into their operations.
Arrests were made during the investigation, including individuals purchasing narcotics, further substantiating the allegations. Search warrants executed on October 9, 2020, yielded significant quantities of drugs at residences linked to Porter and Robinson. At Porter’s residence, authorities seized approximately 7 pounds of methamphetamine, along with firearms, cocaine, heroin, and currency counting machines. Similarly, Robinson’s residence yielded over a pound of methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana. Porter and Robinson were arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail.
Assistant State Attorney Sam Armstrong prosecuted this case.
Published on 06/07/2024.