Six People Sentenced in Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – The last of six defendants was sentenced this week for conspiring to distribute heroin and other drug-related charges. The sentences were announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The defendants are:

• Joe Lee McQuay, 39, Ocala, 240 months in prison (180 months for the heroin conspiracy to be served consecutively to a 60-month sentence for a prior narcotics trafficking offense);

• Ivan Jermaine Wims, 41, Gainesville, 144 months in prison;

• Jordan Christopher Wims (Ivan’s son), 22, Gainesville, 36 months in prison;

• Albert Devon Kitchen, 35, Gainesville, 240 months in prison;

• Ticco Earl Wright, 33, Gainesville, 120 months in prison; and

• Danielle Nicole Duncan, 36, Gainesville, 24 months in prison;

The DEA began this drug trafficking investigation in June 2013. The investigation revealed that McQuay supplied heroin to distributor Ivan Wims. After Ivan Wims was arrested on an unrelated case in April 2014, he continued to coordinate his drug activities from custody, directing his son Jordan Wims and Albert Kitchen how to obtain, process, and distribute heroin to the customers. Duncan and Wright were two of these customers. The undercover agent purchased heroin from Jordan Wims, Kitchen, Duncan, and Wright on multiple occasions.

In the fall of 2016, Ivan and Jordan Wims, Kitchen, Wright, and Duncan pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin. Ivan Wims and Jordan Wims and Kitchen were responsible for more than one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of heroin in the conspiracy, and Wright and Duncan were responsible for quantities of 100 grams or more of heroin. Additionally, Wright pled guilty to possessing a firearm while trafficking in heroin. In January 2017, McQuay pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.

These cases resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gainesville Alachua County Drug Task Force, comprised of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Gainesville Police Department, and the University of Florida Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory P. McMahon prosecuted the cases.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.