Rockledge Man Sentenced To Four Years For Conspiring To Distribute Pharmaceutical Opiates From India

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Michael Achille (57, Rockledge) to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute tapentadol, a pharmaceutical opiate that is a Schedule II controlled substance. Achille had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2022. 

According to court documents, Achille worked with conspirators to obtain international shipments containing thousands of pills of tapentadol, among other pharmaceutical controlled substances. The pills were sent to Achille from locations in India. Achille directed the packages to a fake name at an address in Cape Canaveral where he could retrieve the shipments. Achille then redistributed the pills in smaller quantities and shipped hundreds of those pills to addresses in Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, and other locations. The investigation revealed multiple shipments received by Achille in December and January 2021 involving more than 11,000 pills.    

“Trafficking narcotics destroys the fabric of society and make victims out of communities,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “The outstanding law enforcement partnerships between HSI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Rockledge Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office ensured this criminal will now face the consequences of his actions.”  

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.