Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dharmen K. Patel, 48, who owned Dee’s Liquor Store until he transferred ownership of the company to his wife following his arrest in January, has been sentenced to three years in prison for cocaine trafficking.
Patel was arrested on August 6, 2024 with 380 grams of cocaine in his vehicle and about $8,000 in cash next to the cocaine. He was initially charged with cocaine trafficking, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of trafficking drugs, cocaine possession, and money laundering. He was released after posting bail of $360,000…