U.S. authorities have charged a couple from Florida who were hiding drugs under the guise of children's snacks and selling them in their neighborhood in Tampa. Florida State Attorney Ashley Moody announced on Thursday that Renee Stevens, 32, known as 'Miss Candy,' was sentenced to 60 years in prison after being convicted of trafficking fentanyl. Her husband, Vincent Stevens, who is currently in state prison, was sentenced to an additional 30 years in prison, to be added to the 20-year sentence he was already serving in a prior case involving drugs and firearms. Authorities stated that Renee Stevens earned her nickname by selling marijuana-laced snacks, disguised as popular foods like candy, chips, and cereal, to children in the area. The investigation began in August 2023 when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a tip about Stevens's drug trafficking activities. Subsequently, undercover agents conducted a series of controlled purchases over the next three months, during which an agent witnessed Stevens dealing fentanyl while holding her infant child. Officials reported that the child was present during numerous drug deals. On December 11, 2023, agents executed a search warrant at Stevens's home, seizing 153 grams of fentanyl, 100 fentanyl pills, marijuana, and 63 individually packaged snacks that resembled children's food but contained drugs. Ashley Moody, then the Florida State Attorney, stated that the seized amount of fentanyl 'was enough to kill nearly 80,000 people.' Investigators later determined that Vincent Stevens, who was incarcerated, was running the operation from prison. According to authorities, as reported by WFLA, he communicated with his wife via phone and Facebook to coordinate drug deals and connect with other inmates. When police raided her home, they found 63 individually packaged snacks.
