A Central Florida armed drug trafficker with a machine gun was sentenced.
31-year-old Michael Devante Curry, of Tampa, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle to 60 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a machine gun in furtherance of drug trafficking, and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Curry to forfeit the firearms and assorted rounds of ammunition used in the commission of the offense.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from at least January through June 2025, Curry conspired with others to possess methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana. On June 1, 2025, officers from the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence and found Curry hiding in a kitchen cabinet with fentanyl in his pocket and more than $3,000 in cash. Ultimately, officers located nine firearms, including one equipped with a machine gun conversion device that rendered it a fully automatic weapon. They also seized methamphetamine, crack cocaine, oxycodone pills, an assortment of ammunition, a bullet proof vest, and firearm accessories, including drum magazines.
Agents seized multiple cellphones attributed to Curry and later obtained warrants to search these devices and Curry’s iCloud account. Contained within these records were extensive messages in which Curry discussed distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana within the Tampa area from January through June 2025. In addition, Curry was documented in photographs and videos possessing multiple firearms, some of which were equipped with machine gun conversion devices.
Prior to the offense, Curry had an extensive criminal history, including felony convictions for possession of cocaine, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers.
This Central Florida case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christian Adkins, James C. Preston, and Jeff Chang. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. A federal jury found Curry guilty on May 29, 2026.
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