Florida’s ‘candy Lady’ And Her Husband Sentenced To Decades Behind Bars For Selling Drug-infused Snacks To Kids

A Florida mates who disguised narcotics arsenic children’s snacks and sold them successful their Tampa vicinity – while coordinating deals from situation – will walk decades down bars, authorities said.

Renee Stephens, 32, known arsenic nan “Candy Lady,” was sentenced to 60 years successful situation aft being convicted connected fentanyl trafficking charges, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Thursday.

Her husband, Vincent Stephens, who is presently successful authorities prison, was sentenced to an further 30 years, to beryllium served consecutively to nan 20-year condemnation he was already serving connected a anterior supplier and firearm conviction.

Renee Stephens earned her nickname by trading marijuana-infused snacks disguised arsenic celebrated treats, including candy, chips and cereal, to kids successful nan area, authorities said.

The investigation began successful August 2023, erstwhile nan Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a extremity astir Stephens’ supplier trafficking activities.

Undercover agents conducted a bid of controlled purchases complete nan adjacent 3 months, during which clip an supplier witnessed Stephens handling fentanyl while holding her babe child. Officials said nan kid was coming during aggregate supplier deals.

On December 11, 2023, agents executed a hunt warrant astatine Stephens’ home, seizing 153 grams of fentanyl, 100 fentanyl pills and marijuana, on pinch 63 individually packaged snacks resembling children’s foods but containing drugs.

Ashley Moody, who was serving arsenic Florida’s lawyer wide astatine nan time, said nan magnitude of fentanyl seized was “enough to termination astir 80,000 people.”

Investigators later wished that Vincent Stephens, who was incarcerated, was orchestrating nan cognition from prison. He communicated pinch his woman by telephone and Facebook to coordinate supplier deals and link her pinch different inmates, authorities said.

Renee Stephens was arrested successful December 2023 and convicted successful January 2026 connected aggregate charges, including conspiracy to postulation successful fentanyl, unlawful usage of a two-way connection instrumentality and possession of supplier paraphernalia.

Vincent Stephens was convicted of conspiracy to postulation fentanyl and will service his caller condemnation aft his existent term.

“This mates was not only profiting from pushing poison into our communities, but they were besides doing it successful nan beingness of a young, susceptible child,” Uthmeier said successful nan statement, according to WFLA.

“These supplier traffickers person proven aggregate times that they person nary respect for nan law. I americium grateful to Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Luis Aguila and Gianna Fina for ensuring they will walk a very agelong clip down bars.”