Attorney General James Uthmeier Charges Thirty-Three Fentanyl and Cocaine Traffickers in Massive Drug Ring Bust

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Release Date
Mar 5, 2025
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging 33 fentanyl and cocaine traffickers involved in a massive drug ring in Hillsborough County. According to the law enforcement investigation, this group sold fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamines throughout the Tampa Bay area. Throughout the investigation, authorities seized more than 66 ounces of fentanyl, more than 73 ounces of cocaine, and eight ounces of methamphetamine. 

“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.”

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. 

Attorney General Uthmeier’s OSP will prosecute the cases for the following defendants:

1.    Edward James III 01/27/1994-

  • 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 10/17/1964-

  • 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 03/17/1964-

  • 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 09/17/1999-

  • 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 06/26/1985-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g x4
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

6.    Jerald Jerome Martin 01/02/1981-

  • 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 04/29/2002-

  • 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 01/02/1989-

  • 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 06/28/1961-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 28g or more
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 

10.    Carlos Acevedo Varela 06/17/1977-

  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 
  • Trafficking in Fentanyl 28g or more
  • Trafficking in Fentanyl 4-14g

11.    Ruth Allyn 03/12/1961-

  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g

12.    Alfredo Delvalle Ravelo 11/16/1969-

  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g

13.    Fernando Cabrera 05/23/1955-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g x5
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 

14.    Jamel Benitez Ayala 08/28/1979-

  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Illegal Drugs 4-14g

15.    Elsie Tejeda 04/27/1972-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g 
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

16.    Michelle Velazquez 06/24/1975-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g 
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 

17.    Maria Jose Loaiza 09/22/1986-

  • 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 09/22/1976-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg 
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

19.    Isai Eleazar Alarcon Trigueros 08/24/1989-

  • 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 11/24/1993-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g 
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 

21.    Jorge Wilfredo Vargas Torres 09/09/2001-

  • 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 11/16/1996-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g 
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 

23.    Manuel Fernandez Mata 07/15/1989-

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 28-200g 
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device 

24.    William Rivera Diaz 08/14/1986 (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 12/14/1979 (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 01/28/1992 (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 01/14/1998 (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 11/03/1984 (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 12/02/1999 (Arrested by FDLE and MVS)

  • Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine 400g-150kg

30.    Erika Oquendo Morales 08/20/1976

  • 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. 

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