After a 14-month-long investigation, thirty-three people have been arrested in the dismantling of one of Polk County’s largest heroin trafficking organizations.
On Tuesday, Polk County Sheriff’s Office undercover narcotics detectives, in conjunction with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arrested five males who were part of the Lakeland based organization. 27 others were arrested and charged throughout the duration of the investigation with one suspect being sought.
43-year-old Pablo Borgen, of Jupiter Street, Lakeland, was arrested and charged with three counts of Trafficking Heroin (first degree felony), and Conspiracy to Traffic Heroin (first degree felony.) Borgen is the head of the organization. At the time of his arrest this morning, Borgen was in possession of trafficking amounts of heroin and was charged with another count of Trafficking Heroin and Violation of his current probation.
“This organized heroin trafficking organization was the largest operation in Polk County’s history, and was shut down as a result of a lot of hard work and determination of our narcotics detectives,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “Heroin is a particularly destructive drug and the people who traffic in it are ruining lives.”
Polk County Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives had previously arrested Borgen in December 2008 and charged him with Trafficking in Heroin. Borgen admitted to having “customers” in Polk County, and ultimately pled guilty. His charges were reduced from trafficking to possession with intent to sell and he was sentenced to two years community control followed by three years probation for the 2008 arrest.
In February 2010 detectives received information that Borgen, who was still on probation from the 2008 case, was still selling heroin in the Lakeland area. Detectives learned Borgen was receiving heroin shipments from New York on a regular basis which he would divide up and package in a unique green and gold tin foil for sale. Detectives estimate that Borgen was making approximately $70,000 in heroin sales per month.
Detectives learned Borgen owns and/or maintains four residences in Polk County while reporting no annual income for the past three years. There is no indication that Borgen earns any money other than through the illegal trafficking of heroin.
Borgen had numerous subordinates who were members of his heroin trafficking operation. In addition to Borgen, others arrested today, Tuesday, June 14, 2011, are:
35-year-old Victor Feliz, of 1818 Jupiter Street, Lakeland. Feliz was charged with the Sale of Heroin, Possession of Heroin With the Intent to Sell (W.I.T.S.), Maintaining a Vehicle for Drug Sales, Trafficking Heroin (2 counts), Conspiracy to Traffic Heroin (2 counts), Maintain a Vehicle for Drug Trafficking, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
28-year-old Eliud Baez-Centeno, of 908 Montana Avenue, Lakeland. Baez-Centeno was charged with Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. within 1000 feet of a Church, Sale of Heroin within 1000 feet of a Church, Maintain a Residence for Drug Sales, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Baez-Centeno is currently on Community Control with a termination date of 08/29/2016.
25-year-old Johnny Pagan, Jr., formerly of 1806 Jupiter Street, Lakeland, Pagan’s current address is 2225 Broadway Street, Lakeland. Pagan, who is Borgen’s nephew, was charged with the Sale of Heroin (3 counts), Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. (2 counts), Maintain a Residence for Drug Sales (2 counts), Trafficking Heroin, Maintain a Residence for Drug Trafficking, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (3 counts). Pagan is currently on Active Felon Probation with a termination date of 04/04/2014. During his arrest this morning, Pagan found to be in possession of heroin, he was additionally charged today with Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S.
25-year-old Jose Allende, of 5152 Cornell Street, Lakeland. Allende was charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and V.O.P. (Grand Theft / Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon).
Detectives are searching for 30-year-old Ernie Joel Quintana, DOB 07/11/1980, St. Cloud. Quintana is wanted for the Sale of Heroin within 1000 feet of a Daycare, Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. within 1000 feet of a Daycare, Maintaining a Vehicle for Drug Sales, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Conspiracy to Traffic Heroin. Quintana was previously arrested on 03/20/2011. He was sent to state prison on 04/21/2010. He was released on 05/05/2011.
Other subordinates in the organization who were previously arrested are:
39-year-old Roddis D. Dewdney, DOB 02/02/1972, 1590 Marshall Road SW, Winter Haven. Dewdney, who is currently in the Polk County Jail, will face additional charges of Sale of Heroin within 1000 feet of Public Housing, Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. within 1000 feet of Public Housing. – Dewdney was booked into the Polk County Jail on 10/08/2010 on charges of Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of Public Housing, Possession of Cocaine W.I.T.S. within 1000 feet of Public Housing, Maintaining a Residence for Drug Sales, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. within 1000 feet of Public Housing, Possession of Cannabis, Cultivation of Cannabis within 1000 feet of Public Housing, and Maintaining a Residence for Drug Manufacturing.
51-year-old Nester Velasquez, DOB 09/22/1959, 2407 Weber Street, Lakeland. Velasquez was charged with the Sale of Heroin, Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. Maintaining a Residence for Drug Sales, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia on 10/22/09. He was sent to state prison on 03/03/2010.
63-year-old Fermin Mejia, DOB 07/07/1948, 2407 Weber Street, Lakeland. Mejia was charged with Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. within 1000 feet of a Church, Delivery of Heroin, Possession of Cannabis, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia on 10/22/2009 and released to ICE on 12/15/2009. He has since been deported to the Dominican Republic.
35-year-old Alexander Mojica, DOB 05/01/1976, 308 West Crescent Drive, Apartment #7, Lakeland. Mojica is currently in state prison on unrelated charges. Detectives direct filed charges of Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cannabis, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Residence for Drug Use.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Borgen used several Lakeland residences and one Winter Haven residence as “stash houses.” These residences were located at:
1806 Jupiter Street, Lakeland (Borgen’s residence)
1048 East Lake Lure Loop, Lakeland (Borgen’s sister’s residence)
2407 Weber Street, Lakeland (Mejia and Velasquez’s residence)
2715 Fletcher Avenue, Apt. #4, Lakeland (Quintana’s residence)
618 Montana Ave, Lakeland (Eliud Baez-Centeno’s residence)
1590 Marshall Road SW, Winter Haven (Dewdney’s residence)
1500 West Highlands Street, Lot 59, Lakeland (Ray Caw’s residence-his information appears below)
Over the course of the 14-month-long investigation detectives also identified Borgen’s web of associates and customers, many of whom bought and sold heroin to each other. Those individuals are:
39-year-old Yovanni Borgen, DOB 02/15/1972, Pablo’s wife, who resides with him at the Jupiter Street address. Yovanni was arrested on 12/30/2008 and charged with Trafficking Heroin, Maintaining a Residence for Drug Trafficking, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Yovanni bonded out on 01/01/2009.
43-year-old Miriam Rodriguez, DOB 09/10/1967, 208.5 3rd Street South, Haines City. Rodriguez is charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cannabis, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and V.O.P. (Petit Theft). Rodriguez was last arrested on 03/09/2011. She was released on bond on 03/13/2011 and is currently serving 45 days on the weekend work release program for DWLSR.
45-year-old Ray Caw, DOB 02/22/1966, 1500 West Highlands Street, Lakeland. Caw, who is currently in the Polk County Jail, was charged with Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S., Sale of Heroin, Maintaining a Residence for Drug Sales, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Alprazolam on 02/24/2011.
48-year-old Luis Cruz, DOB 11/04/1962, 1818 Jupiter Street, Lakeland. Cruz is charged with Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. within 1000 feet of a Church, Sale of Heroin within 1000 feet of a Church, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia on 04/01/2011 and is currently in the Polk County Jail serving a 300 day sentence on these charges with an expected release date of 12/06/2011.
32-year-old Matthew Gross, DOB 12/23/1978, 814 West Kentucky Avenue, Lakeland. On 02/05/2010, Gross was charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Providing a False Name to a LEO, Resisting Arrest W/O Violence, and Violation of Probation (Grand Theft). He was released on 07/09/2010 and arrested again on 12/30/2010 and is currently in the Polk County Jail on other charges.
51-year-old Maria Jorge-Figueroa, DOB 03/23/1960, 202 3rd Street South, Haines City. Jorge-Figueroa was arrested on 04/08/2011 and charged with Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. within 1000 feet of a Church (2 counts), Sale of Heroin within 1000 feet of a Church, Maintaining a residence for Drug Sales, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts), and V.O.P. (Possession of Heroin, Resisting Arrest With Violence). Jorge-Figueroa is currently in the Polk County Jail.
34-year-old Juan Alvarado, DOB 03/14/1977, 202 3rd Street South, Haines City. Alvarado was arrested on 04/18/2011, and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Residence for Drug Use. Alvarado bonded out on 04/20/2011 and was remanded to custody on 05/21/2011, then was allowed to bond out on 06/06/2011.
31-year-old Gregory Adam Hoch, DOB 04/10/1980, 6345 Hampton Pointe Circle, Lakeland. Hoch was arrested on 05/28/2011, and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Vehicle for Drug Use. Hoch bonded out on 05/31/2011.
30-year-old Christie Malave, DOB 09/11/1980, 308 West Crescent Drive, Apartment #7, Lakeland. Malave was arrested on 04/15/2011, and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cannabis, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Residence for Drug Use. Malave bonded out on 04/16/2011.
30-year-old Danny Rodriguez, DOB 11/16/1980, 2033 Wayman Street, Lakeland. Rodriguez was arrested on 07/19/2010, and charged with Soliciting another to Sell Heroin. Rodriguez bonded out on 07/20/2010. He was arrested on an additional charge of Attempting to Purchase Heroin on 08/31/2010 and bonded out on 08/31/2010.
41-year-old Jose Ortiz, DOB 05/06/1969, 9041 Damascus Road, Polk City. Ortiz was arrested on 06/18/2010, and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Suboxone, Possession of Alprazolam, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Vehicle for Drug Use. Ortiz was sent to state prison on 07/16/2010.
27-year-old Damian Retamar, DOB 11/20/1983, 2033 Wayman Street, Lakeland. Retamar was arrested on 07/19/2010, and charged with Possession of Methadone. Retamar bonded out on 07/20/2010. He was arrested on failure to appear charges on 11/08/10 and released on probation on 01/07/11.
27-year-old Brian Rall, DOB 01/30/1984, 836 Lemon Street, Lakeland. Rall was arrested 11/04/2010, and charged with Conspiracy to Purchase Heroin. Rall bonded out on 12/15/2010. He was remanded into custody on 05/27/11 and released on probation 06/08/2011.
28-year-old Heather Bryan, DOB 12/17/1982, 2226 Green Glen Court, Lakeland. Bryan was arrested on 11/04/2010, and charged with Soliciting another to Sell Heroin. Bryan was released on the Pre-Trial Release program on 12/07/2010.
48-year-old Hector Ramirez, DOB 05/13/1963, 115 Myrtle Avenue, Lakeland. Ramierz was arrested on 11/04/2010, and charged with Soliciting another to Sell Heroin. Ramierz bonded out on 11/06/2010. He was remanded into custody again on 04/29/11.
34-year-old Juan Olivero, DOB 04/29/1977, 218 Leelon Road, Lakeland. Olivero was arrested on 11/04/2010, and charged with Soliciting another to Sell Heroin. Olivero bonded out on 11/07/2010. He was re-arrested on 12/02/2010 on new charges info filed. He bonded out on 12/03/2010.
27-year-old Michael Fletcher, DOB 07/26/1983, 4345 Creekwood Lane, Lakeland. Fletcher was arrested on 11/04/2010, and charged with Conspiracy to Purchase Heroin. Fletcher bonded out on 11/06/2010.
50-year-old Sein Vasquez, DOB 06/02/1960, 2940 Rosi Lane, Lakeland. Vasquez was arrested on 11/04/2010, and charged with Conspiracy to Purchase Heroin. Vasquez bonded out on 11/05/2010. He was re-arrested on 12/04/2010 on new charges info filed and bonded out the same day.
35-year-old Justin Hixon, DOB 10/18/1975, 6104 Irby Lane West, Lakeland. Hixon was arrested on 11/04/2010, and charged with Soliciting another to Sell Heroin. Hixon bonded out on 11/05/2010.
During the course of the investigation, detectives also identified a rival group of trafficking associates led by 39-year-old Israel Cintron-Vazquez, DOB 09/06/1971, 5167 Canbry Lane, Lakeland. Cintron-Vazquez was arrested on 09/11/2010 and charged with Trafficking Heroin, Conspiracy to Traffic Heroin, Maintaining a Vehicle for Drug Trafficking, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Cintron-Vazquez was released on probation on 01/27/2011.
Cintron-Vazquez’s associates were identified as:
42-year-old Luis Ayala-Gerena, DOB 07/08/1968, 1142 Neville Avenue, Lakeland. Ayala-Gerena is currently in Franklin Correctional Institution with a release date of 07/15/2020. Ayala-Gerena is facing additional charges of Sale of Heroin, Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S., Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Residence for Drug Sales as a result of the current investigation.
31-year-old Willie Morales, Jr., DOB 05/31/1980, 5115 Socrum Loop Road, Apartment 208, Lakeland. Morales was arrested on 11/04/2010, he was charged with Possession of Heroin W.I.T.S. (2 counts), Sale of Heroin, Maintaining a Residence for Drug Sales (2 counts), Child Neglect, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts), and V.O.P. (Attempted Robbery.)
30-year-old Jasmyn Martinez, DOB 11/22/1980, 5115 Socrum Loop Road, Apartment 208, Lakeland. Martinez was arrested on 11/04/2010, she was charged with Child Neglect and Maintaining a Residence for Drug Use. Martinez bonded out on 11/05/2010.
