An undercover drug operation at a Florida Atlantic University student housing complex led to the arrest of 19-year-old Alexander Zheleznyak on Dec. 11. He was charged with trafficking after pills he sold tested positive for fentanyl, according to the arrest file.
The investigation began in August after the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) received tips that Zheleznyak was selling drugs using a phone number monitored by PBSO. According to court records, an undercover deputy contacted him in early October to ask about purchasing “Percs,” a slang term for Percocet prescription pills.
Undercover, the deputy arranged to meet Zheleznyak on Oct. 10 at University Village Apartments on FAU’s Boca Raton campus.
According to the affidavit, Zheleznyak entered an undercover officer’s unmarked vehicle and exchanged a clear plastic bag of pills for $300 in pre-recorded funds, a form of currency used by law enforcement during undercover operations, before returning to Building 58 at the University Village Apartments.
Laboratory testing later revealed the pills, advertised as oxycodone, contained approximately 5.87 grams of fentanyl, exceeding the four-gram threshold set by Florida Statute 893.135(1)(c)1.a.
Prosecutors requested that Zheleznyak be held without bond, but the judge denied the motion and set bail at $100,000. If released, he must live with his parents and is advised to have no contact with FAU.
Zheleznyak waived arraignment, entered a not guilty plea, and requested a jury trial. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2026.
Media Relations stated in an email to the University Press that Florida Atlantic University is cooperating with law enforcement and emphasized its commitment to campus safety.
This story is still developing and will be updated as new information becomes available.
Emily Ives is the Political Reporter for the University Press. For more information on this or other stories, contact Ives at [email protected].
