Florida Attorney General Announces Elimination of 64 Suspects in Effort to End Fentanyl Trafficking Network

Polk County Sheriff's Office and FDLE team up to take down fentanyl trafficking ring

POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA – Attorney General Ashley Moody's statewide prosecution office announced last week the closure of a fentanyl trafficking ring.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have arrested 64 people involved in the trafficking organization and Moody's State Attorneys General are charging nine of the defendants with felony counts of racketeer-influenced and corrupt organizations, conspiracy to commit RICO and fentanyl trafficking, among others. charges.

The group, led by Hector Torres, Miguel Castro-Rivera and Luis Delgado, sold fentanyl throughout Polk and Osceola counties.

The investigation revealed that most of the transactions came from two businesses, a fish and bait shop and a motorcycle shop, owned by two of the ring's conspirators. During the investigation, authorities seized 742 grams of fentanyl, enough to kill 371,000 Floridians.

“Florida leads the nation in fentanyl seizures, and this case is another example of how Sheriff Grady Judd and his deputies are leaders in helping us remove deadly drugs from our streets,” said said Attorney General Ashley Moody.

“Working with Polk County deputies and the FDLE, we were able to seize 742 grams of fentanyl in two counties. That's enough poison to kill 371,000 Floridians, and I'm confident this drug operation saved lives. »

According to the PCSO investigation, Torres, Castro-Rivera, and Delgado, along with co-conspirators Pilar Rivera, Wilma Fuentes Laureano, Norberto Otero, Jr., Luis Lopez Torres, Abel Flores, and Jeimylee Rivera, sold fentanyl in Polk and Osceola counties.

The group typically sold small amounts of the deadly substance in an attempt to avoid detection by authorities.

The trafficking network used counter-surveillance techniques, such as cameras outside residences and businesses, multiple cell phones, and changing the location of drug deals when possible.

In addition to the 742 grams of fentanyl, authorities seized more than 3,500 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of methamphetamine, 57 grams of oxycodone and more than 228 grams of marijuana.

State prosecutors under Attorney General Moody's have charged Torres, Castro-Rivera and Delgado with RICO, a first-degree felony. All defendants except Flores are charged with conspiracy to commit RICO, a first-degree felony.

Rivera, Delgado and Fuentes are also charged with trafficking fentanyl, a first-degree felony. Flores is charged with selling fentanyl, a second-degree felony.

Attorney General Moody's OSP will prosecute the cases of the nine defendants. The remaining cases within the single judicial circuit will be handled by the local prosecutor.