Wilton Manors, FL - A drug dealer was sentenced to nine years in prison after fentanyl-laced drugs caused multiple spring breakers to overdose last year.
Axel Giovany Casseus, a 22-year-old drug dealer whose fentanyl-laced drugs caused multiple spring breakers, including West Point cadets, to overdose at a Wilton Manors home last year, was been sentenced to nine years in prison.
The sentencing was given on the one-year anniversary of the incident that left six young men and one woman hospitalized.
Casseus had been charged with cocaine trafficking and pled guilty to the charges in December.
According to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue officials, four of the patients had taken a substance that was believed to be cocaine laced with fentanyl.
Two others were exposed to the fentanyl when they tried to give them CPR.
A seventh person, a woman, was later transported to the hospital after feeling ill.
When paramedics arrived at the scene, they found multiple men in cardiac arrest in the front yard of the home, which was a short-term vacation rental.
According to fire rescue officials, police and paramedics immediately began administering chest compressions and quickly used the overdose drug Narcan.
Officials say some of the patients were able to regain a heartbeat after the Narcan was administered, but four were still in respiratory arrest when they were transported to the hospitals.
Five West Point cadets were involved, and four of them were transported to the hospital.
One was an Army football player.
Authorities investigating the incident found the phone number for the alleged dealer who sold drugs to the spring breakers and used the number to negotiate a drug deal with Casseus.
Undercover officers later met with Casseus, who sold them 43 grams of suspected cocaine in exchange for $1,000.
The phone used to communicate with the spring breakers was found in Casseus' possession.
Officials say Casseus admitted to participating in the transaction.