Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida Press Release:
KOWANKO CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING NARCOTICS
(Citrus County, FL) In Judge Joel D. Fritton’s courtroom last week, 50-year-old Robert Paul Kowanko was found guilty by a jury on trafficking illicit narcotics charges stemming from his 2023 arrest. Kowanko was convicted of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Trafficking in Cocaine, Unlawful Use of a Two-way Communications Device, and Possession of Paraphernalia. Kowanko was remanded into custody until his sentencing hearing on April 30, 2025, at 9 a.m.
“We’ve seen the devastating and deadly impacts of illicit narcotics in our communities,” said Walter Forgie, Chief Assistant State Attorney. “Working with our law enforcement partners like that of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, we are targeting the source of these drugs and ensuring defendants face their punishment for the harm they caused.
“Kowanko was arrested in September 2023 following an investigation by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) detectives. The investigation revealed that the defendant was involved in the sale and delivery of large quantities of methamphetamine in Citrus County.
Officials observed Kowanko and another subject exit the wood line of a property off US 19 in Crystal River where a drug transaction was completed via a controlled buy by SIU.
Officers made contact with Kowanko who was standing by his vehicle which was currently occupied by a co-defendant, later identified as Sean Thomas Joyce.
Law enforcement detained the pair and conducted a search of their persons, as well as the vehicle. During the search of the car, officers located a clear plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance as well as a digital scale and two hypodermic needles. While searching Kowanko, they located another clear plastic baggie with a similar white powder. Joyce was searched and found to have narcotics on his person as well. All substances were field-tested and determined to be Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.
During their investigation, detectives were able to determine Kowanko had traveled from Port Charlotte with Joyce, to deliver approximately half a pound of Methamphetamine. Kowanko admitted post-Miranda to selling the narcotics.
Co-defendant Joyce entered a plea earlier this year and was sentenced to 10 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
The outcome of this case was a result of the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, as well as Assistant State Attorneys Kaitlyn Mannis and Kevin Davis.
