Editor’s Note: A version of this story ran online on May 15.
On May 13, former Florida wide receiver Reche Caldwell ran into trouble with the law yet again. This time, he was busted for possession of the drug MDMA, commonly known as “Molly,” with the intent to distribute.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office made the arrest at 12:46 p.m. May 13, at Lodge of Lakecrest Apartments located at 10420 N. McKinley Dr. in Tampa.
Per an arrest report obtained by alligatorSports, Caldwell was having the drug shipped in large quantities direct from China to the apartment he was arrested at near the Temple Terrace part of Tampa.
On the day of Caldwell’s arrest, an agent of the United States Border and Customs Patrol intercepted a package mailed to the McKinly Dr. address at the Tampa Main Post Office. The agent opened the package to find 4.8 pounds of a “white rocky substance,” which after being field tested was identified as MDMA.
An inspector then assumed an undercover role and hand-delivered the package to Caldwell, who signed for it and took custody of it. An unnamed witness in the report told police that this was not the first package Caldwell had received from China, and said she had sent money in exchange for Molly in the past.
Molly is similar to the drug ecstasy — both are technically MDMA — but Ecstacy is its pill form while Molly is usually a powder or crystal-like substance and is sold for about $100 to $130 a gram.
Caldwell was released at 8:31 p.m. May 14, on $2,000 bond. and was arraigned five days later when he entered a plea of not guilty.
In early January, Caldwell was one of eight men arrested in an illegal gambling operation by Tampa police. He was charged with running an illegal gambling house and bookmaking at the time.
In 2009, he was involved in a domestic violence case and in 2011, he was booked for possession of marijuana as well as driving with a suspended license.
On May 14, he became involved as a co-defendant in a foreclosure case with his wife Sherron on a property in New Tampa.
His 141 receptions as a Gator was good for sixth best all-time when he chose to forgo his redshirt senior season to enter the 2002 NFL draft. He had a streak of 10 consecutive games with a touchdown and his eight career games with 100 or more receiving yards was tied for third in UF history at that time. He was drafted 48th overall by the San Diego Chargers and played seven seasons for two other teams — the Washington Redskins and New England Patriots.
His younger brother Bubba also played for UF and set a school record for receptions in a career in 2007 with 185.
Follow Richard Johnson on Twitter @RagjUF
Reche Caldwell, who played wide receiver for UF from 1998-2001, was arrested on May 13 for possession of MDMA with the intent to sell.
