Drug Trafficking in Sumter County, Florida
30 cases (2025) · Sumter County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Sumter County handled 30 drug trafficking cases with a 96.7% guilty rate and 3.3% withheld adjudication—the highest among trafficking counties reviewed. Withheld adjudication, a Florida-specific outcome where guilt is found but no formal conviction is recorded, serves as the primary alternative to conviction here. No dismissals occurred, placing the county 2.6 points below the statewide dismissal average.
Sentencing averaged 3,072 days (8.4 years) with 93.3% receiving prison confinement. The median of 2,688 days (7.4 years) indicates sustained lengthy confinement. Fines averaged $95,862. Public defenders handled 50% of cases, reflecting significant representation of indigent defendants in these serious trafficking prosecutions.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Trafficking charge in Sumter County makes it in front of a judge. Of 133 prosecutor decisions on Drug Trafficking charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 16.5% — below the 35.0% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney case data (2023-2025). Rates are per charge, not per defendant — a dropped charge often reflects a plea agreement on another charge in the same case, not the case going away. Percentages are of charges receiving a prosecution decision; transfers between courts are excluded. Court outcome data on this page is a separate dataset covering cases that reached disposition. Statewide charging patterns: The Florida Prosecution Report.
Outcome Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 96.7% of 30 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 30 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 92 | 8.4 years |
| County Jail | 1 | 3.0 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Trafficking sentencing in Sumter County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 45 | 95.6% | 0.0% |
| Black | 43 | 95.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 35 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 8.5 years |
| 2024 | 32 | 90.6% | 0.0% | 8.0 years |
| 2025 | 30 | 96.7% | 0.0% | 8.4 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | First Degree | 80 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 12 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 5 |
Related Charges in Sumter County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,098 | 62.6% | 0.3% |
| Traffic Offense | 853 | 76.4% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 341 | 66.9% | 1.5% |
| Other | 263 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 299 | 75.6% | 0.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 143 | 81.8% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 154 | 99.4% | 0.0% |
| Fraud | 122 | 74.6% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Trafficking in Sumter County?
The guilty rate is 96.7% based on 30 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Trafficking in Sumter County?
Adjudication is withheld in 3.3% of cases (2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Drug Trafficking in Sumter County?
The average sentence is 8.4 years, with an average fine of $95,862 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
50.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 13.3% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Trafficking in Sumter County, Florida (2025). Based on 30 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-trafficking/sumter
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Sumter County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 30 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com