Arrests were made in a South Florida music festival drug-related death case.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge John Vecchio stood alongside State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Miami Police Department Chief Manuel Morales to announce the arrests in a drug overdose death that took place at ULTRA Music Festival last year. FDLE’s South Florida State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E.) Task Force conducted a complex year-long investigation which resulted in the four arrests.
FDLE, through the South Florida fentanyl task force, arrested 27-year-old Charlene Forti, of Coral Springs, 25-year-old Carmen Lo, of Atlanta Georgia, 25-year-old Hannah Le-Nguyen, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and 26-year-old An Tan Ly, of Parkland, in connection to the death investigation of Jenniha Le, of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Le-Nguyen, at the time of the crime, was known as Hung Nguyen.
Forti is charged with one count of first-degree murder. Forti and Lo face one count of conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful use of a communication device. Le-Nguyen and Ly are charged with possession of MDMA.
The investigation began when the City of Miami Police Department responded to a deceased female at Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH). FDLE’s South Florida S.A.F.E. Task Force assumed the investigation, after investigators determined the death may have been connected to illegal drugs.
The investigation revealed that the female, identified as Le, was attending the ULTRA Music Festival with Le-Nguyen when she ingested a pressed Methylenedioxy-Methamphetamine (MDMA) pill. A short time later, Le’s health began to deteriorate, and Le-Nguyen took her to the medical tent at the festival. Miami Fire Rescue personnel began a medical assessment and transported Le to JMH, where she was later pronounced deceased.
Further investigation revealed that Lo had connected with Forti with Le-Nguyen, Forti had conducted the financial transaction for the MDMA with Le-Nguyen, Ly had delivered the MDMA to Le-Nguyen at ULTRA, and Le-Nguyen gave the pill to Le.
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the cause of death to be acute MDMA toxicity.
“Securing a capital murder charge in a drug-related death case is not easy, but the task force agents’ unrelenting investigative capabilities ensured that these four suspects are held accountable for bringing illegal drugs into our communities,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge John Vecchio. “These four arrests reflect the hard work and coordination between the FDLE, the State Attorney’s Office, and the Miami Police Department.”
Ly and Le-Nguyen were taken into custody at the FDLE Miami Regional Operations Center. They were booked into the Turner Guilford Knight (TGK) Detention Center in West Miami-Dade. Lo was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia by FDLE task force agents, with the assistance of Sandy Springs Police Department. She was booked into the Fulton County Jail before being extradited to Miami-Dade County. Forti was arrested at the FDLE Miami Regional Operations Center with the assistance of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. She was booked into the TGK Detention Center. The investigation remains active. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is prosecuting each case.
“Our Miami-Dade community is a welcoming place—vibrant, diverse, and alive with glorious activities, exciting nightlife, and a Caribbean and Latin culture you won’t find anywhere else in America or anywhere else in the world. It’s a place where visitors come to feel joy, connection, and learn about Florida’s unique beauty,” said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “But come play, don’t leave in a pine box. I want to let this be a clear warning: if you choose to sell or deliver drugs, you are responsible for the consequences. If someone dies because of the drugs you provide, we will hold you accountable.”
The South Florida S.A.F.E. Task Force consists of agents and detectives with the FDLE, Doral Police Department, Florida International University Police Department, Hialeah Police Department, Medley Police Department, Miami Police Department and Sweetwater Police Department.
“The City of Miami remains one of the most dynamic and welcoming destinations in the world, defined by its vibrant culture, diverse communities, and unmatched energy. Each year, visitors come to enjoy everything our city has to offer. We welcome those who choose to enjoy Miami responsibly. Let this be clear. The City of Miami will not tolerate the sale or distribution of illegal narcotics. Anyone engaged in drug trafficking or delivery will be held accountable. If the substances you provide result in serious bodily harm or death, the Miami Police Department will pursue all applicable charges to the fullest extent of the law,” said Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales. “Our mission is to protect life and ensure public safety. We will continue taking decisive action to safeguard our residents and visitors and preserve Miami as a place of enjoyment, not tragedy.”
Since the S.A.F.E program began in 2023, law enforcement has made more than 2,700 arrests and seized over $6.2 million, over 950 firearms, 580 pounds of fentanyl, 600 pounds of cocaine, 475 pounds of methamphetamine and 48 pounds of MDMA.
FDLE urges the public to report suspicious activity. Floridians can report suspicious activity by calling 855-FLA-SAFE or 911, or by visiting the FDLE online.
