Fentanyl Trafficker, Probation Violator, and Reckless Driver Sentenced in Key West Court Roundup
Recent cases in Monroe County Circuit Court underscore prosecutors’ focus on drug trafficking, probation enforcement, and public safety.
A Key West man convicted of trafficking in fentanyl heads to state prison, a Miami-Dade woman is ordered behind bars after repeated probation violations, and another local man is sentenced for a reckless golf cart crash on Duval Street — part of a recent series of rulings handed down in Monroe County Circuit Court.
Fentanyl Trafficking Case
Daniel Coto, 41, of Key West, was sentenced to three years in Florida State Prison on each of two felony counts — to be served concurrently — after pleading no contest to Trafficking in Fentanyl (4 grams or more) and Possession of Cocaine.
Coto was stopped by Key West Police in March 2023 after running a red light near the Overseas Market Plaza. A K-9 team alerted to narcotics inside his vehicle, where officers found multiple bags of fentanyl and cocaine hidden in compartments and later in Coto’s clothing.
He was also ordered to pay $3,000 in court costs, a $50,000 fine, and will serve one year of supervised probation upon release, including mandatory participation in substance-abuse treatment programs.
“This sentence reflects the continued effort by our office and law-enforcement partners to remove deadly fentanyl from our community,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “Every case involving fentanyl carries the potential for tragedy.”
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield credited the Key West Police Department and K-9 officers for their professionalism in uncovering the drugs and building a solid case. Assistant State Attorney Carter Reeves prosecuted the case.
Probation Violations
In a separate case, Angeline Oramas, 41, of Miami-Dade County, was sentenced to 30 months in the Florida Department of Corrections on each of two felony counts, to run consecutively, after repeated violations of probation stemming from prior drug convictions.
Oramas’s probation was revoked after she tested positive for cocaine and extended opiates and left her supervision area without permission. Her violations began after an April 2024 Key West traffic stop, during which a K-9 officer detected narcotics residue in her vehicle.
She originally pleaded no contest in 2023 to possession of cocaine, possession of MDMA, and possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving probation and drug-treatment conditions that she later failed to meet.
“Probation gives defendants the opportunity to show they can live responsibly outside of custody,” Ward said. “When that trust is broken, the court must act to protect the integrity of the system.”
Reckless Driving Conviction
Dakota Austin Chigas, 29, of Key West, was convicted for a February 2025 golf cart crash on Duval Street that injured passengers and caused property damage near La Te Da.
Chigas pleaded no contest to leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries and four counts of reckless driving with property damage or personal injury. He was sentenced to 36 months of probation, had his driver’s license revoked for three years, and must pay $3,324 in restitution to victims.
Investigators said Chigas was seen swerving down Duval Street before flipping the rental golf cart. Witnesses reported that he fled the scene on foot. Officers later linked him to the crash through photos and surveillance footage.
Assistant State Attorney Carter Reeves prosecuted the case, commending Key West Police Officers Corey Vanderhoof and Joshua Hesse for their detailed investigation.
Together, the rulings reflect ongoing efforts by the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office to address drug crimes, enforce probation compliance, and ensure accountability for reckless conduct endangering public safety throughout the Florida Keys.