Two Arrested in Sarasota Fentanyl Bust

                                                                                                               NEWS RELEASE #: 16-205 - NOVEMBER 10, 2016

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested two people on last Thursday after they were caught in the act of selling fentanyl from a Days Inn hotel room.

Over the past two weeks, undercover detectives conducted surveillance on 22-year-old Melissa Finnerty, DOB 2/26/94, and 38-year-old David Oneal, DOB 5/21/78, who were suspected of conducting drug sales out of the hotel room in which they were residing. Surveillance consisted of multiple undercover drug transactions, in which detectives worked with both Finnerty and Oneal to purchase fentanyl from the duo's hotel room at the Days Inn, located at the 5000 block of N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. In total, detectives were able to purchase 3.1 grams of fentanyl. A search of the hotel room led to the discovery of six Suboxone, 8 milligram strips of buprenorphine and 0.8 grams of marijuana. When detectives searched Oneal, they found an additional 0.9 grams of fentanyl on him.

Finnerty, last known address of 5743 Timber Lake Drive in Sarasota, is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Without a Prescription (Buprenorphine), Possession of Marijuana (20 grams or Less), Probation Violation: Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Probation Violation: Introduction of Contraband Into a detention facility. She is currently in custody on a $2,000 bond. Oneal, last known address of 2180 Proctor Road in Sarasota, is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Without a Prescription (Fentanyl), Possession of a Controlled Substance Without a Prescription (Buprenorphine), and Possession of Marijuana (20 grams or Less). He is currently in custody on a $3,500 bond.
Finnerty Melissa_11102016 Oneal David_11102016