Local

Business owner near UCF accused of selling morphine

ORLANDO, Fla. — Investigators said the owner of an Orange County tanning salon near the University of Central Florida was selling morphine pills out of his business.

Channel 9’s Jeff Deal learned the owner of Beach Hotties on Alafaya Trail was already wanted for the same thing in another state.

On Friday, a judge said he considered Panagiotis Karamihail a flight risk and kept him in jail on a half-million dollar bond.

MBI agents arrested Karamihail at the shop Thursday night.

Investigators said a friend of his met with undercover agents near the business, went inside and met with Karamihail, and brought out 100,000 pills.

In court, the judge said Karamihail already had a drug related warrant for his arrest.

“He has the same charge out of Tennessee for a warrant,” the judge said.

Agents said the drug buy was 45 grams of morphine and it was the first large amount of morphine they’ve seen in recent years.

A conviction for trafficking that amount carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison.

Investigators said they found another 58 pills inside the business.

The suspect must prove his bond money isn’t from illegal sources before he can get out of jail.