COUPLE FACES DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES

A Port Charlotte couple faces 30 years in prison after being arrested
Thursday on drug trafficking charges.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, Charlotte County Sheriff's
Office narcotics detectives took an estimated $10,000 in crack cocaine
off the streets.

The two arrested include Jacqueline Denise Small, 36, of 21083 Bersell
Ave., and Joseph Edward Tyler, 42, of the same address.

Small faces charges of four counts of possessing crack cocaine, two
counts of selling crack cocaine and two counts of trafficking in crack
cocaine.

Tyler was arrested on the charges of trafficking in crack cocaine and
possessing crack cocaine.

Narcotics detectives bought crack cocaine from Small on three
different occasions recently, according to the arrest reports.

On June 30, detectives purchased .6 grams of crack for $100.

On July 2, detectives bought 3 grams of crack cocaine for $200.

And on July 7, detectives bought 33.5 grams of crack cocaine for $300.

Narcotics detectives stopped Small in a vehicle after she left her
Bersell Avenue home around 3 p.m. Thursday. Tyler was also in the car.

Detectives saw a container holding 242 grams of crack cocaine in plain
view, states the reprot.

In Florida, if a person is caught possessing or selling more than 200
grams of cocaine, they face a minimum mandatory sentence of seven
years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

One of Small's charges includes trafficking in more than 200 grams of
crack cocaine -- making her eligible for the minimum mandatory
sentence of seven years if convicted. Therefore, Small faces between
seven and 30 years in prison if she is convicted of the trafficking
charge.

The total purchases of crack cocaine amount to more than a
quarter-kilo or about $10,000 worth on the street, according to
Sheriff's spokesman Bob Carpenter.

Both were booked into the Charlotte County Jail and held on $50,000
bonds. Small posted bond Friday and was released. Tyler remained in
jail on Friday evening.