Drug Trafficking Ring Broken Up In St. Petersburg: U.S. DOJ

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Four men face charges after a drug trafficking ring in St. Petersburg, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Eric L. Lemon (44, New Port Richey), Eric Lekent Lemon, Jr. (20, St. Petersburg), Dominic Giannantonio (46, St. Petersburg) and Tryon Metteria Byrd IV (43, St. Petersburg) were charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, according to an indictment that was unsealed Friday.

If convicted on all counts, Lemon and Giannantonio face mandatory minimum penalties of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison, the DOJ said. If convicted on all counts, Lemon, Jr., and Byrd face a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.

The four men sold drugs out of various St. Petersburg homes. During the investigation, they sold meth, powder cocaine and crack cocaine to undercover agents, the agency said.