17 July – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Julie Torres, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives (ATF), and Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced today that defendant, Matthew E. Doris, appeared in federal court in Fort Pierce and pleaded guilty in case number 05-14033-CR-Graham to two (2) counts of possession of a firearm and one (1) count of possession of explosives, all while being an unlawful user of and being addicted to methadone, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(3) and 924(a)(2). Doris also pleaded guilty in case number 05-14050-CR-Martinez to one (1) count of fraudulently acquiring approximately 8,700 tablets of methadone, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(3).
As a result of his guilty pleas, Doris faces maximum sentences of ten (10) years in prison on each of the gun and explosives charges and four (4) years’ imprisonment on the drug charge. Doris will be sentenced on September 9, 2005, in Fort Pierce, Florida.
According to the statements made in open Court, Doris and his wife, Robin Lynn Doris, who pled guilty to these charges in a separate hearing on June 29, 2005, were both using forged prescriptions to obtain methadone from various pharmacies in the Vero Beach area. On several occasions between September 3, 2002, and April 2, 2005, Doris submitted fraudulent prescriptions to various pharmacies and obtained a total of approximately 8,700 tablets of methadone.
This investigation was commenced in early April 2005 by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement seized one hundred and forty-two (142) doses of methadone, approximately twenty-eight (28) weapons, multiple rounds of ammunition, six sticks of dynamite twenty (20) additional weapons and miscellaneous rounds of ammunition.
Mr. Acosta stated, “The United States Attorney’s Office, along with its federal and local allies, remain committed to identifying and prosecuting those who abuse narcotics while at the same time possessing weapons, ammunition, and explosives. Guns and drugs are each dangerous on their own, but when possessed together, they present a far greater danger to our community.”
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. He also noted and commended the critical assistance provided by the members of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jim McAdams.
