Five Men Charged in Dade City Fentanyl Trafficking Case Following Homeland Security Task Force Arrests

TAMPA, Fla. — Five men have been arrested and charged in a federal indictment alleging their involvement in a Dade City drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl and cocaine.

United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the unsealing of the indictment on August 5, 2026. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, along with separate distribution offenses assigned to four of the five men.

Aaron McKinney, 38, of Dade City, is charged with drug trafficking conspiracy, four counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of distributing cocaine and fentanyl.

Derrick Harrison, 53, of Dade City, and Derrick Harrison II, 35, of Zephyrhills, are each charged with drug trafficking conspiracy and distributing fentanyl.

Derrick Gentles, 41, of Dade City, is charged with drug trafficking conspiracy.

Michael Taylor, 34, of Dade City, is charged with drug trafficking conspiracy and distributing cocaine and fentanyl.

The indictment does not accuse every defendant of committing the same substantive distribution offenses. All five are included in the conspiracy charge, while the additional counts address specific alleged transactions involving fentanyl or a combination of fentanyl and cocaine.

According to the indictment and other court records, McKinney allegedly sold fentanyl and additional controlled substances in Dade City. Prosecutors allege that Harrison, Harrison II, Gentles and Taylor assisted him with the drug trafficking operation.

Federal authorities contend that the organization trafficked more than 400 grams of fentanyl, along with cocaine. The indictment represents the government’s accusations and does not establish that the alleged conduct has been proven.

If convicted, McKinney faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Harrison and Harrison II each face up to 40 years, while Gentles and Taylor each face a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Those figures represent the statutory maximum penalties identified by prosecutors rather than predetermined sentences. Any sentence would be imposed by a federal judge after considering the offense of conviction, applicable federal statutes, sentencing guidelines and other factors presented to the court.

The case was investigated through a coordinated operation involving the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the Zephyrhills Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan will prosecute the case for the Middle District of Florida.

The prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under Executive Order 14159. HSTF Region 20 covers the Tampa area and brings together personnel from multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is leading the prosecution. The task force structure is intended to allow participating agencies to combine investigative authorities, intelligence and operational resources when addressing organized criminal activity.

An indictment is a formal accusation that begins a federal criminal prosecution. Aaron McKinney, Derrick Harrison, Derrick Harrison II, Derrick Gentles and Michael Taylor are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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