Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced charges against 19 individuals involved in a drug trafficking organization operating in Central Florida. The group was reportedly selling fentanyl and cocaine throughout the region. The announcement was made at a news conference in Orlando, with Florida Department of Law Enforcement Assistant Commissioner Lee Massey and Orange County Sheriff John Mina present.
The Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged the defendants with multiple offenses, including trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine, as well as conspiracy to traffic these substances. “There are swift consequences for those who commit crimes in Florida, and we will support law enforcement in the fight to keep deadly fentanyl off our streets,” stated Attorney General Uthmeier. He credited the success of this operation to the SAFE Grant program, which provides state funding to local law enforcement for investigations into illicit fentanyl activities.
The investigation by FDLE and OCSO led to the seizure of six pounds of fentanyl and four pounds of cocaine, valued at $1.5 million. This operation was partially funded by Florida’s SAFE grant program, which supports local agencies combating illegal fentanyl distribution by reimbursing approved investigative operations.
In the past year alone, the SAFE Grant Program has facilitated over 1,500 arrests and resulted in the seizure of more than 170 kilograms of fentanyl and over 57,000 pills containing fentanyl.
Arrested individuals include Juan Carlos Oquendo, Luis Perez Guzman, Kendrick Butler, Jose Rodriguez, Wilfredo Hernandez, Denniz Andino Jr., Edward De La Cruz Perez, McKenzie Debardeleben, Anamaria Carrasquero, Luis Galarza, Herman Toledo, Xuxa Sanes, Brian Nazario, Molly Wilson, Juan Gonzalez, Nolan Lavery III, and Jose Ortiz. David Santana and Valerie Multari remain at large.
Assistant Statewide Prosecutor David Gillespie is set to handle the case.
