‘Breaking Bad’ contest winner takes plea deal for running drug ring

LEE COUNTY, Fla .- A San Carlos Park man, charged with running a multimillion dollar synthetic drug operation out of his home, will spend two years in prison.

Ryan Carroll, 29, left a Lee County courtroom just moments after he plead no contest to selling and manufacturing synthetic drugs.

Carroll will have until next Monday to turn himself in.

Carroll was arrested one year ago, after Lee County deputies found 79,000 packets of synthetic marijuana in his San Carlos park home, as well as two others he rented for his operation. Deputies said Carroll had been shipping the drugs all over the country.

“I would best describe Mr. Carroll’s operation as being a wholesaler, he would sell to various smoke shops or gas stations, wherever they would try to sell this, who would then sell it retail,” said Assistant State Attorney Mike Brown.

Carroll’s case made national headlines, because just months before his arrest, Carroll won a contest to watch the premiere of “Breaking Bad’ with the cast. The show is about a chemistry teacher, turned meth dealer.

Carroll signed the plea the same day he was set to go to trial. He will spend two years in prison, followed by one year of house arrest.

“Twenty-four months is a penalty, that’s for sure. But he will come out on the other side of this, strong, he’s a bright young man, he’s an intelligent young man, he’s an entrepreneur,” said his lawyer Sawyer Smith.

Two others were charged in the operation with Carroll.

They both pleaded guilty, and are currently serving time on probation.