Nine people indicted in drug trafficking ring spanning California, Arizona and Florida: DOJ

The world of the illicit drug trade is a complex and ever-changing landscape in which criminal organizations employ sophisticated tactics to evade law enforcement and expand their reach.

One of these complex cases played out across multiple states, demonstrating federal authorities' determination to dismantle a sprawling drug trafficking conspiracy that stretched from California to Arizona and central Florida.

In a historic ruling, nine individuals were sentenced to federal prison for their respective roles in this operation to distribute several kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine.

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This two-year, multi-agency investigation revealed the drug trafficking organization's (DTO) complex network, which used commercial trucks to ship narcotics from Mexico across the United States to central Florida.

Federal agents and task force officers meticulously tracked the movement of drugs, collecting vital intelligence on DTO operations and key players. The investigation revealed the extent of this criminal network, whose tentacles extend from the Southwest to the East Coast.

All nine individuals charged in this case were convicted either following jury trials or plea agreements, each playing a distinct role in the larger conspiracy.

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Those sentenced include:

1. Luis Miguel Hernandez (36, Phoenix, AZ): Convicted of distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine, sentenced to 9 years and 1 month in prison.
2. Saul Sandoval (41, Phoenix, AZ): Pleaded guilty to distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine, sentenced to 10 years in prison.
3. Zara Mascarella (20, Palm Coast, FL): Pleaded guilty to distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine and 500 grams of cocaine, sentenced to 5 years in prison.
4. Camarie razors (24, Bunnell, FL): Pleaded guilty to distribution of 500 grams of cocaine, sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
5. Alfred L. Razors (50, Bunnell, FL): Convicted of distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, sentenced to 16 years in prison.
6. Alfred L. Shavers Jr. (26, Bunnell, FL): Pleaded guilty to distributing 50 grams of methamphetamine, sentenced to 5 years in prison.
7. Jimmie Lee Bizzell (53, Bunnell, FL): Pleaded guilty to distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine, sentenced to 6 years in prison.
8. Wendell Ferreira (42, Berlin, CT): Pleaded guilty to distribution of 500 grams of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine, sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison.
9. Tyrone Jones (56, Palm Coast, FL): Convicted of distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine (two counts) and 50 grams of methamphetamine, sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The investigation revealed the complex modus operandi employed by the DTO. The commercial truck drivers, Bizzell and Ferreira, were responsible for transporting the drugs from California and Arizona to central Florida, where the drugs were then distributed by local drug dealers in the area.

Hernandez and Sandoval, based in Phoenix and Los Angeles respectively, were identified as the sources of the meth and cocaine, after brokering deals with co-conspirators in Mexico to smuggle the drugs across the border .

On October 31, 2022, law enforcement executed search warrants at six locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Daytona Beach, Florida, resulting in the seizure of 44.54 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.72 kilograms of cocaine, nine guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. . This operation dealt a major blow to DTO operations in the region.

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Sandoval and Hernandez were apprehended on April 25, 2023, in Phoenix and Los Angeles, respectively. Sandoval's Phoenix residence revealed a large cache of illegal items, including 1,114 grams of fentanyl pills, 18 firearms, 4 firearm suppressors and more than $5,000 in cash. Hernandez was arrested while in the middle of a new drug bust involving approximately 36 kilograms of methamphetamine.

After an extensive investigation and court proceeding, all nine individuals were sentenced to federal prison for their respective roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Sentences ranged from 2 years and 6 months to 16 years, reflecting the seriousness of the crimes and the authorities' commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.

This case was part of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt and dismantle higher-level criminal organizations which threaten the United States. .

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Daytona Beach Resident Agency, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Volusia County Sheriff's Office, from the Daytona Beach Police Department and the DeLand Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Sartoian and Matthew Del Mastro.

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