Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging 33 fentanyl and cocaine traffickers involved in a massive drug ring in Central Florida.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office dismantled the large-scale drug trafficking network responsible for distributing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs throughout the area and arrested the drug traffickers. The investigation uncovered direct ties between the group and a network in Puerto Rico, where fentanyl and cocaine were being smuggled into Florida, primarily through Orlando, before being distributed throughout Hillsborough County and surrounding areas.
The six-month investigation, led by the HCSO Major Violators Section in collaboration with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration Orlando Office, resulted in the arrest of the 33 individuals.
“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.”
Detectives identified two brothers, 32-year-old Fernando Elias Rosario Torres, currently incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp Pensacola, and 26-year-old Elias Xavier Rosario Torres, currently incarcerated at Graceville Correctional Facility, coordinating drug distribution within Hillsborough County while using contraband cellphones smuggled into the correctional facilities.
Through investigative means, detectives also uncovered that their parents, 59-year-old Elias Rosario Negron and 59-year-old Enid Torres Berrios were actively involved in the drug network. Both were arrested and charged as part of this operation.
As a result of this investigation, 33 suspects were arrested, with the majority facing trafficking charges for fentanyl, cocaine, or methamphetamine. Detectives also seized approximately two kilograms of fentanyl, enough to potentially prevent 931,000 overdose deaths, along with two kilograms of cocaine and eight ounces of methamphetamine. Additionally, two fentanyl presses used to manufacture counterfeit pills were confiscated, along with five firearms and $11,257 in U.S. currency.
Fifteen of the defendants are charged with fentanyl trafficking or conspiracy to traffic fentanyl. 19 defendants are charged with cocaine trafficking or conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Three defendants are already incarcerated. Additional defendants are charged with trafficking or conspiracy to traffic in illegal substances, or RICO.
The investigation is the result of a partnership with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“This wasn’t just a few people selling drugs. This was a network, a business built on death, addiction, and illegal profit,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I couldn’t be more proud of our detectives for their relentless dedication and hard work. This investigation was a huge win, not just for our team but for our entire community. Let this be a warning: If you are trafficking drugs in Hillsborough County, we will find you, and you will go to jail.”
“Our joint success in dismantling this network is further proof of how our existing partnerships are strengthened and effective with help from the S.A.F.E. grant program,” FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said. “FDLE’s agents and HCSO’s detectives have delivered the strongest message with these arrests: we have a zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking in the Tampa Bay area.”
The investigation remains ongoing, according to local law enforcement.
Florida Attorney General Uthmeier’s OSP will prosecute the cases for the following defendants:
1. Edward James III
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g x4
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
6. Jerald Jerome Martin
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 28g or more
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
10. Carlos Acevedo Varela
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
- Trafficking in Fentanyl 28g or more
- Trafficking in Fentanyl 4-14g
11. Ruth Allyn
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g
12. Alfredo Delvalle Ravelo
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g
13. Fernando Cabrera
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g x5
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
14. Jamel Benitez Ayala
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g
15. Elsie Tejeda
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
16. Michelle Velazquez
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
17. Maria Jose Loaiza
- 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
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
19. Isai Eleazar Alarcon Trigueros
- 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
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
21. Jorge Wilfredo Vargas Torres
- 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
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
23. Manuel Fernandez Mata
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
24. William Rivera Diaz (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (Arrested by FDLE and MVS)
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg
30. Erika Oquendo Morales
- 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, according to the Florida Attorney General’s office.
