Huge drug bust in Florida, AG Uthmeier files serious charges against 33 people

Florida – Following a major drug trafficking raid, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced charges against 33 people connected to a significant fentanyl and cocaine distribution system in Hillsborough County. Under the direction of the Office of Statewide Prosecution, this significant effort emphasizes a strong reaction to the growing drug pandemic in the Tampa Bay region.

Working with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Attorney General’s office, they have been looking at this network distributing not only fentanyl and cocaine but also methamphetamines. Over 66 ounces of fentanyl, 73 ounces of cocaine, and eight ounces of methamphetamine were seized thanks to the intensive investigative efforts.

“Because of the hard work of our law enforcement partners, enough fentanyl to kill 931,000 Floridians was taken off the streets,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Let this operation serve as a warning to anyone who dares to sell this poison in Florida: the rule of law will prevail, and you will be found and brought to justice.”

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Fifteen of the indicted individuals are accused of either conspiracy to traffic fentanyl or fentanyl trafficking. Three of the nineteen defendants involved in cocaine trafficking or conspiracy to traffic cocaine were already behind bars on similar charges.

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Other charges among the defendants include additional counts of trafficking or conspiracy to traffic in illegal substances and violations related to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

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Attorney General Uthmeier’s OSP will prosecute the cases for the following defendants:

1.  Edward James III 01/27/1994-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 28g-30kg
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device x2
• RICO Violation
• RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor
• Trafficking in Fentanyl 28g or more

2.  Elias Rosario Negron 10/17/1964-

• Trafficking in Cocaine 400g-150kg
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg x2
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 200g-400g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• RICO Violation
• RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor

3.  Enid Torres Berrios 03/17/1964-

• Trafficking in Cocaine 400g-150kg
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• RICO Violation
• RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor

4.  Jose Alexie Santiago 09/17/1999-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg x2
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g

5.  Sidney Mandrell Hall 06/26/1985-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g x4
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

6.  Jerald Jerome Martin 01/02/1981-

• RICO Violation
• RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl 28g or more
• Fleeing to Elude
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

7.  Angel Garcia 04/29/2002-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 200g-400g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

8.  Eliezer Gonzalez Mena 01/02/1989-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• RICO Violation
• RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor

9.  Pedro Martinez Flores 06/28/1961-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 28g or more
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

10.  Carlos Acevedo Varela 06/17/1977-

• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Trafficking in Fentanyl 28g or more
• Trafficking in Fentanyl 4-14g

11.  Ruth Allyn 03/12/1961-

• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g

12.  Alfredo Delvalle Ravelo 11/16/1969-

• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g

13.  Fernando Cabrera 05/23/1955-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g x5
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

14.  Jamel Benitez Ayala 08/28/1979-

• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g

15.  Elsie Tejeda 04/27/1972-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

16.  Michelle Velazquez 06/24/1975-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

17.  Maria Jose Loaiza 09/22/1986-

• RICO Violation
• RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 28g or more
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Resist without Violence

18.  Osvaldo Colon 09/22/1976-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

19.  Isai Eleazar Alarcon Trigueros 08/24/1989-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• RICO Violation
• RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor
• VOP- Out of Sumter County

20.  Yolymar Ojeda Gomez 11/24/1993-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

21.  Jorge Wilfredo Vargas Torres 09/09/2001-

• RICO Violation
• RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device x8
• Trafficking in Fentanyl 28g or more x6
• Trafficking in Cocaine 28g-200g
• Trafficking in Cocaine 200g to 400g

22.  Vicky Garcia 11/16/1996-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

23.  Manuel Fernandez Mata 07/15/1989-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

24.  William Rivera Diaz 08/14/1986 (currently incarcerated at Falkenburg Road Jail for unrelated charges)-

• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g

25.  Elvis Fernandez 12/14/1979 (currently incarcerated in Florida State Prison for unrelated charges)-

• Trafficking In Fentanyl 28g or more x2
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Trafficking in Amphetamine 200g or more
• Trafficking in Fentanyl 4-14g

26.  Fernando Elias Rosario Torres 01/28/1992 (currently incarcerated in Federal Prison Camp Pensacola)-

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Rico Violation
• Rico Conspiracy or Endeavor

27.  Elias Xavier Rosario Torres 01/14/1998 (currently incarcerated at Graceville Correctional Facility)-

• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Rico Violation
• Rico Conspiracy or Endeavor
• Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 28g-30kg

28.  Angel Jimenez Torres 11/03/1984 (Arrested at his residence by DEA Orlando)

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
• Rico Violation
• Rico Conspiracy or Endeavor

29.  Alejandro Alzate 12/02/1999 (Arrested by FDLE and MVS)

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg

30.  Erika Oquendo Morales 08/20/1976

• Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200 grams
• Unlawful use of a Two-way Communication Device

Three other defendants are currently at large and will be charged by OSP.

Apart from highlighting the cooperative effort of state and federal law enforcement authorities, this bust marks a major triumph in the fight against a drug pandemic that has taken many lives in Florida and around the country.

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The office of the Attorney General restates its determination to aggressively fight drug trafficking thereby guaranteeing the safety and welfare of its people.