Pine Hills Man Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison

Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Vladimir Jean Pierre (31, Orlando) to seven years in federal prison for theft of government property, aggravated identity theft, and attempted possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

He pleaded guilty on February 16, 2017.

According to court documents, in April 2015, Pierre received a package from China that contained approximately one kilogram of Ethylone. Ethylone is a positional isomer of Butylone, which is a DEA Schedule I controlled substance. Pierre was questioned shortly after he picked up the package from an Orlando Post Office. According to Pierre, he was aware that the package would contain a controlled substance, but thought that it would contain either cocaine or heroin.

In addition, from February 2012 through May 2012, Pierre deposited a total of 43 separate Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax refund checks, totaling over $250,000, into two different bank accounts. IRS agents obtained video footage from the bank showing Pierre depositing a tax refund check for “S.D.” into his own bank account. The agents later identified S.D. and learned that the individual did not know Pierre and had not given him permission to deposit the refund check. However, S.D. did acknowledge having filed a tax return but never receiving the expected check.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn P. Napier and Tiffany Cummins.