I just, I am so shocked right now, actually," she said. "I wasn't surprised about the things that they found, but I was very happy that the police department was listening to us. A marijuana operation brought in $750,000 per week and officers said they were selling mostly to University of Central Florida students. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. WFTV Detectives said the organization was obtaining large quantities of drugs from overseas and distributing them throughout Brevard County, which is about 50 miles east of Orlando. It's a money-making opportunity. Dana Crowe says she's the girlfriend of accused UCF pot kingpin David Cole. "It's a big money-making opportunity. The joint-task force operation will also. Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated . Florida sues realty company and reality-star founder for swindling homeowners across U.S. The Bay County Sheriff's Office announced more than 55 grams of fentanyl were taken off the streets after two separate drug busts in the. Officers began to take a closer look, and by June 2, TPD had secured search warrants for multiple rooms in the eight-room motel. The drugs were shipped in from California and Mexico to houses in four Central Florida counties and then the dealers would sell the drugs to students. UCF police confirmed that seven people arrested were students: David Cole, Christopher Tully, Rafael Leon, Jorge J. Henkle, Ronald Murray, Garrett Gibbons and Elijah Moore Jr. WFTV was at the UCF campus Thursday and nobody seemed surprised that several students moonlighted as drug dealers. Eleven other suspects are accused of purchasing drugs from the five primary suppliers. If that same statistic is true for UCF, than of the school's 53,500 students the drug operation had more than 16,000 potential customers. Authorities said the suspected dealers were distributing approximately 750 baggies of heroin-laced fentanyl a day. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma spoke on Tuesday about a significant drug bust. Buster Thompson. The Pinellas County Sheriff announced the arrest of a Florida attorney who allegedly stole $840,000 from his clients and spent the funds on drugs and OnlyFans. Thomas Mates is a digital storyteller for News 6 and ClickOrlando.com. She has since posted bond and was released. Is Ron DeSantis running for president in 2024? I figured out what was going on," she said. So far this year, the sheriffs office said that there have been 105 drug overdose deaths so far this year in Seminole County. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The alleged head of the marijuana trafficking ring, David Cole, was taken into custody for selling high-level grade marijuana from California. A criminal defense attorney could help their clients prepare a strong defense to counter the charges, and if the evidence was obtained under suspicious circumstances, a skilled attorney may be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed. FILE - Kodak Black arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017, in Inglewood, Calif. A Florida judge issued an arrest warrant for the rapper, whose given name is Bill Kapri, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, for failing a drug test while on bail for a drug charge, court records show. Seminole County authorities, along with 15 other agencies, confiscated 600 pounds of marijuana, guns, cars and $240,000 in cash. WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - Opioids, thousands of dollars and nearly two dozen guns were taken off the streets by Winter Springs police Monday. Sheriff Lemma said. The suspects were allegedly selling and trading drugs illegally that they purchased legitimately. READ: Has Florida man finally met his match? SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that two highly organized drug distribution rings are off the streets. "Did you sell any marijuana?" Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma spoke on Tuesday about a significant drug bust. SEMINOLE, Fla. - A man in Pinellas County is facing numerous charges after deputies discovered nearly 200 pounds of marijuana inside his home. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. On Aug. 16, detectives began an investigation after receiving a tip that twin brothers Mason and Nicholas Aponte, 20, were selling large amounts of drugs from two residences in Oldsmar a. Five of the suspects have been identified as the primary suppliers and dealers; in addition to being charged with trafficking in illegal drugs, the ring leaders are also accused of conspiracy. The joint-task force operation will also keep highly addictive and dangerous opioids from ending up in the wrong hands, deputies said. Posted October 26, 2021 Latest Videos video Florida lawmakers propose 'constitutional carry' bill video Orlando bar owners push back last-call security ordinance video FAA investigating near-miss at JFK Airport video Kingpin's Girlfriend Talks After receiving several complaints of ongoing criminal activity occurring at hotels and motels in Seminole Heights, TPD began surveilling several businesses along Nebraska Avenue. 203 South Seminole Avenue, Inverness, FL 34452 +1(352)794-1500 Website; Shaw's Senior Homecare Services . The investigation, known as "Operation Sundown," took down two different networks that were distributing 750 bags of heroin laced with fentanyl every day. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) - Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI agents raided four locations in Pinellas County on Thursday. Please check your connection and try again using the Retry button. The numbers for 2009 haven't been finalized yet. Two of the arrests were said to be top leaders in the gang. Lemma said tips from the public came in regarding Nicholas Britton. (Spectrum News image). Three packages containing two pounds of marijuana each at an air-mail facility in Orlando started a federal investigation into an alleged drug ring in Orange County and Seminole County. Crime Map. Seminole County Government offers competitive pay, benefits, and a positive working environment and seeks top candidates for a variety of employment opportunities. Seminole County, Fla. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that two highly organized drug distribution rings are off the streets. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Following leads from residents in Seminole County, the Seminole County Sheriffs Office SWAT team, Volusia County Sheriffs SWAT team, and the Sanford Police Departments Neighborhood Response Unit seized more than 22,000 small bags of heroin laced with fentanyl, as well as smaller amounts of cocaine and marijuana. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The sheriff said this kind of raid won't solve all the problems with opioids. A lot of the people who are users and buyers were going over and over again," Lemma explained. Gilley was booked into jail on a $49,500 bond. It happened this week at. In a statement, Chief O'Connor called the bust the result of an ideal partnership between neighbors and police. Fill out the form below for a free evaluation of your case. "They were using a broker in California working as a conduit between buyers here in Central Florida and growers of the marijuana in California," Captain Sammy Gibson of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said. Download it here. All rights reserved. The buyers bought the high-grade product and then made millions in profits. Truett said he hopes TPD continues to put the pressure on motel owners to keep their properties from turning into havens of criminal activity. 2023 FOX Television Stations, 'Absolute mayhem': Suspect dead after shootout in Poinciana, Polk County sheriff says, Steven Lorenzo sentenced to death for murders of Jason Galehouse and Michael Waccholtz in 2003, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, Seminole lawyer accused of stealing more than $840K from 16 personal injury victims, Pinellas sheriff says, Accused drunk driver runs over boyfriend, police say, TPD: Video shows suspected officer impersonator who exposed himself to woman at Tampa hotel, USF Sarasota-Manatee to host groundbreaking for its first student housing complex, Berns Steak House requiring credit card for reservations, no-show fees will be donated to Feeding Tampa Bay, Feed flamingos at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg during annual festival, Train carrying propane derails in Manatee County, but no leaks detected: officials. The deputies also located a semi-automatic Sig Sauer firearm inside the residence. Those who face drug charges need to take the matter very seriously. The arrest comes after Orange County deputies announced a large-scale drug ring bust of their own Thursday, though Lemma said the two rings did not work together. They have been charged with importing cannabis from a different state and then selling it within the county. Phone: (407) 665-6650. You may be offline. County Judges of Brevard. Seminole County says it is currently serving an additional seven search warrants. Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive. "Well, UCF being the third largest university in the country, it sounds like it, doesn't it?" SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - The operator of a Florida drug rehabilitation center has been arrested. MAJOR POT BUST: ", Fighter Law, in Orlando, Florida, serves Orlando and the central Florida region, including Thornton Park, Winter Park, College Park, Kissimmee, Sanford, Tavares, Titusville, Bartow, Orange County, Seminole County, Lake County, Brevard County, Osceola County and Polk County. I'm looking at the house, I'm looking at everything. An employee at a Seminole County drug treatment facility was arrested Tuesday after deputies said she was found to have sold drugs, including the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, to people. [TRENDING: DeSantis to unemployed: Look for a job | Cops: Fla. woman hurls Whopper, racial slurs | Video: SpaceX Starship finally sticks landing]. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A major drug bust at a home in Northwest Jacksonville led to the arrests of six people and the seizure of 9 kilograms of cocaine, authorities said. But they admit, it is a pretty good place for that kind of business. It's a business," sophomore James Thorpe said. Daily Booking Report. Interactive map: Every homicide in Central Florida. Video: 11 arrested in Seminole County on drug charges. WFTV learned much of the marijuana the ring sold had been grown legally in California under medical marijuana laws. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, deputies found 192.6 pounds of marijuana while executing a search warrant at Gregory Heine's Seminole home on Saturday. Is it going to shut it down? Seminole County (January 6, 2021) - Based on evidence at the scene and fingerprint identification conducted by the Medical Examiner, the body discovered in Sanford Tuesday afternoon has been identified as 35-year-old Tiffany Church. Heine has been charged with operating a drug house, trafficking illegal drugs, five counts of a felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and operating a motor vehicle without a license. Source: Orlando Sentinel, Seminole County cops arrest 19 in drug case, Rene Stutzman, April 10, 2013. 2023 FOX Television Stations, 4 people found dead, including child, in Brevard County home, sheriff says, These 3 Florida roads are among the deadliest in the U.S., report shows, Surgeon runs down Philadelphia street to retrieve organ from transport vehicle stuck in traffic, SpaceX Crew-6 launch: 'All systems are looking good' for liftoff from Florida, Sheriff: Florida man shoots own dog in head, blames it on 'intruder', Lakefront chaos: Man on jet ski arrested for allegedly slapping 68-year-old woman, New charges filed against teen accused of killing Orlando journalist, little girl in Pine Hills shooting spree, Pennsylvania Chick-fil-A bans kids under 16 from dining in restaurant without parent, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, Toasty start to March in Central Florida before cooler temperatures arrive. 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