OCALA, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - Ocala police have released a video showing a drug bust. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said it was the largest fentanyl bust in the agency's history. "We're hoping this would be a shot into the body of the drug dealers and take the wind out of the organization," said Capt. The undercover operation, which began in September, was carried out in coordination with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security, and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. The high-volume of drug trafficking bought Dandridge a lifestyle flashy enough to "pop up on the radar screen." Widdows and Scott bought Meth from Rojas and in turn were selling the meth on the streets of Polk County. Researchers from the University of Arizona, in collaboration with Stony Brook University and Wake Forest School of Medicine, analyzed blood samples from COVID patient Florida - In May, Gov. Recently, Eric Holder and President Obama announced they want law enforcement agencies to be lenient on drug dealers and individuals arrested for drug offences. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said a long-term drug investigation took down a major drug distribution ring in Jacksonville consisting of 27 arrests . One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. Ortiz-Hernandez was the currier hauling the 44 pounds of meth he was arrested at Loves Truck Stop on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Thats enough people to fill this room, he said during the press conference. Detectives with served search warrants at the following addresses: 2322 View Way, Lakeland (Lopez & Rojas residence), 10910 Sportsman Trail, Lakeland (Lopez & Rojas residence), 402 Wildlife Trail, Lakeland (Lopez & Rojas residence), 3604 Glenoak Drive South, Lakeland Joshua Widdows residence, 3839 NW 1st NW Street, Lakeland Tyler Scotts residence, 2015 Adair Road, Davenport Rios residence. Some have multiple charges and some are facing federal prosecution, he said. Investigators searched two different homes last Friday. He said since OPD started tracking drugs in the community in 2017, just in Ocala proper, police have responded to roughly 900 over dose incidents. To take it one step further, anyone with a criminal history to include drug abuse or alcohol abuse may not even be eligible for public assistance of any kind. Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken spoke about this drug epidemic in the city during the press conference. At the time of his arrest in 1997, authorities had 250 audiotapes of wiretapped telephone conversations between Dandridge and his suppliers and distributors. Villafuerte Rojos was arrested at Loves Truck Stop during the interception of the 44 pounds of Methamphetamine on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Joseph Angelo Rinaldi, 34, of 10811 Sienna Drive Clermont was arrested in Osceola and charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine over 28 grams, and Unlawful use of Two-Way Communication. a whopping$1.4 billion worth of cocaine and weed. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it deemed to be. Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Dioscelina Galaraza-Ozorio, 33, of 2322 View Way, Lakeland is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine over 200 grams, Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 200 grams, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. Undercover detectives arranged to purchase fentanyl from an unidentified source in Mexico for $24,000 per kilo. OCALA, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - Ocala police have released a video showing a drug bust. [Ocala Post has included the press conference video in its entirety. . Guy Howie, head of the county's multi-agency drug task force, said Dandridge was suspected of returning to the drug trade soon after his release. Sheriff Judd wants to know how an illegal Mexican of whom is a convicted felon was able to cross over the border making reentry into the United States, travel to Florida, then walk into a public assistance office where she was able to obtain welfare. Godoy is currently receiving Federal/public assistance. Eric Holder is calling for the review of records on individuals that are currently serving time for drug charges, and says he may want their sentences to be reduced or inmates released. Tyler Scott is wanted for Possession of Methamphetamine, Sale of Methamphetamine and Own or Rent Structure for Knowingly Selling Drugs. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, he was most recently released from prison in December 2003 after serving eight months on a racketeering violation charge. March 24, 2020. The victim in the shooting originally went to the home to buy some marijuana. LEE COUNTY, Fla. Deputies arrested six people Wednesday in the largest drug bust to ever hit Lee County. While investigators were on scene, another team of probation officers and detectives executed a search warrant at 726 N. Griffith Ave, Crystal River. If convicted, he faces up to 105 years in prison. Warrants were served at 13785 SW 42nd Court Road, Marion Oaks; 14310 SW 39th Court Road, Marion Oaks; 2713 SW 15th St, Ocala; 1240 SE County Road 484, Apartment E1; and 1240 SE CR 484, Apartment E2. Alfredo Ortiz-Hernandez, 25, of 750 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista, California is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic in Meth over 200 grams, Trafficking in Meth over 200 grams. While Dandridge was the "big guy" in Marion County, others, such as J. Felix Nunez Mondragon, were merely employees. The busts were part of Operation Life Saver, an ongoing effort by the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) targeting drug traffickers. According to investigators, the fentanyl was manufactured in Mexico and trafficked into the U.S. to be made into synthetic pills and sold on the streets. Danielle Campbell is currently receiving Federal/public assistance. Humane Society |Citrus County Animal Services |Florida Travel | Ocala Post. The UDEST commander cited the recent arrest of 26-year-old Noah Steven Francis, of Summerfield, as one of the biggest his team has made. He is pleased with the overall outcome of the investigation but wants answers. OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Agents with the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) announced Wednesday that they have seized more than 300 marijuana plants, plus an additional 300 packaged marijuana products. This single opportunity to work in cooperation with the Florida Department of Corrections resulted in nearly a million dollars worth of drugs and guns taken off the streets of Citrus County., Citrus County Sheriffs Office |Citrus County Clerk of the Court |Citrus County Fire Rescue |Citrus County Property Appraiser | Inverness Fire Rescue | Citrus County Tax Collector | Citrus County Child Advocacy | Citrus County Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida Tapia has Prior convictions of: Resist Officer W/O Violence- 2010. All rights reserved. Tara Tapia, 30, of 2015 Adair Road, Davenport is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine over 28 grams, first degree felony mandating a 7-year minimum mandatory sentence, Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 28 grams, first degree felony mandating a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. Eliezer Rodriguez Merced, 32,of 54 Pinetree Road Lawrenceville, Goergia is wanted for Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine over 200 grams, Unlawful Transportation of Currency $50,000 or More and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. 2023 FOX Television Stations, 4 people found dead, including juvenile, in Brevard County home, sheriff says, 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', FHP: Truck hauling oil overturns on I-95 in Palm Bay, Ron DeSantis reveals in memoir his one condition for getting married at Disney World, Florida House tees up concealed weapons bill, Latest tool to track Burmese pythons in Florida: GPS-fitted opossums, Florida alligator catchers say they're going into debt while trying to protect residents, The Caribbean's most expensive home just went on the market for $200M see inside, NASA pushes Crew-6 launch to early Monday as astronauts arrive on Space Coast. It all stemmed from a shooting on Sunday. Criminal Arrest History: Assault, Battery on LEO, Resisting without Violence and Deprive Officer of Weapon , 2004 Cocaine possession w/intent to sell, Purchase Narcotics 2007. Drugs, guns, and thousands of dollars were seized. All rights reserved. Citrus County Sheriff's Office makes biggest drug bust in county history. Drugs, guns, and thousands of dollars were seized. Rojas is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine over 200 grams, Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 200 grams, Unlawful Transportation of Currency $100,000 or more, Possession of a Structure Used for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime, a third degree felony. Feds Plan to Seize Russian Oligarch's Luxe Fisher Island Properties, Miami Canal Flooded With Turd Water From Contractor-Involved Pipe Break, Collapse of "Let's Go Brandon" Meme Coin Sparks Billion-Dollar Court Battle, Gator Gets in on the Action at Tampa Bay Horse Race, Readers Warn of Traffic, "Bloodsport" Driving After. Mondragon was released on bond on October 17. 1:14. The UDEST is made up of members from the Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Ocala Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Rodriguez showed up to the meeting in Polk County with five of the six kilograms. (Polk County Sheriff's Office). Ron DeSantis said the bust marked the biggest drug seizure in the county's history. //