A drug bust in Polk County that public assistance officials should have answers for and that has Florida residents, including law enforcement officials fuming with anger, is one of the largest in Central Florida History in regards to the . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Drugs, guns, and thousands of dollars were seized. Joel Tapia, 30, of 2015 Adair Road, Davenport is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine over 14 grams, a first degree felony, mandating a three year minimum mandatory sentence; Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 14 grams; Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. Lisa Bonugli (street nickname Methany) was also arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Fox News Flash top headlines for October 21. The Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) is an initiative of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Hector Sanyustiz, 30 ,of 1254 Westside Drive, Winter Garden, is wanted for Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine over 28 grams, Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 28 grams, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. (Fox News). UNIFIED DRUG ENFORCEMENT STRIKE TEAM . It all stemmed from a shooting on Sunday. Rodriguez had his bond set at $10,000 and Diaz had his bond set at $35,000. Eugenia Lopez, 29, of 402 Wildlife Trail Lakeland is charged with Possession of a Place or Structure being Used for the Sale of a Controlled Substance. The Florida Department of Health in Citrus County (DOH-Citrus) advises residents living in homes with private wells affected by floodwaters to take precautions against Doctors say they are now being threatened with fines and revocation of their medical license if they speak to the media about COVID-19 "vaccines." As a result of an investigation that began October 2013, on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, Polk County Sheriffs Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force detectives, along with members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Orlando District Office, Florida Attorney Generals Office of Statewide Prosecution, and Lake County Sheriffs Office detectives, identified 25 suspects involved in an organized drug trafficking enterprise. Melonie Holt Do you think Florida should drug test welfare recipients or prevent felons that have been convicted of alcohol or drug related offenses from receiving assistance? Court records show that the twice-divorced Dandridge has been evicted numerous times and has been the subject of several domestic violence injunctions as well as an injunction for repeated violence while dating a 20-year-old. Ocala, Florida -- On June 1, 2021,, FDA: Rat meat being served as chicken in Chinese and, Have you ever wondered what rat meat would taste like? Ocala Post - June 18, 2019 55 Beverly Hills/Crystal River On June 14th, 2019, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Tactical Impact Unit (TIU), in partnership with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) Probation Office, completed the largest drug seizure in the history of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. Diaz and Rodriguez were arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail on Tuesday. Joshua Widdows is currently receiving Federal/public assistance. Rodriguezalso told detectives he could sell them marijuana, meth and cocaine. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. The Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team initiated an investigation that spanned three (3) months. 29, 2021 at 10:55 AM PDT POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - The Polk County Sheriff's Office had a huge win with the largest meth seizure in county history. Maria Widdows, 29, 3604 Glenoak Drive South, Lakeland is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The quantity of the drug was enough to kill 2.7 million people. Robert Douglas, who oversees the unit comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement agents. All rights reserved. The organization included a network of couriers, managers, distributors and customers. 0:00. One suspect was in the U.S. illegally. Ocala Newspaper - News without hiding the truth, Sheriff outraged: illegal immigrant drug dealers on food stamps, See Attachment for Criminal Arrest History, Rebekah Jones created revenge site, posted nudes of, A police report obtained by Ocala Post from Tallahassee shows that Rebekah Jones, the woman who claimed, (UNCUT VIDEO) Florida woman gets naked, caused, [Last edited on June 4, 2021, at 1:03 p.m., to include uncut video.] The facilitatorthen warned the detectives about the risk of overdosing. Dennis Strow of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. He has a long history of incarceration for crimes stretching back nearly two decades, including a three-month stint in prison for aggravated assault with a weapon out of St. Johns County and possession of a firearm by a felon. Officials said that several suspects who were directly involved with opioid overdose death investigations were arrested. "We got word several years ago that he was 'back in,' " Howie said. (See Attachment for Criminal Arrest History). When police were investigating on Monday, they found what they believed to be drug activity, and they were right. Ortiz-Hernandez was the currier hauling the 44 pounds of meth he was arrested at Loves Truck Stop on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said it was the largest fentanyl bust in the agency's history. Drug ringleader busted in Marion Oaks. Douglas added that in the first quarter of this year, UDEST arrested more than 80 people some of which are listed below with charges ranging from possession to drug trafficking. By. Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida Speaking from the county's . The Riviera Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, located at, 1935 SE US Highway At a June 18, 2020, emergency meeting of the Crystal River City Council, members voted unanimously to postpone the 2020 fireworks display to a An Illinois family used the obituary of their loved one who allegedly had passed away from COVID-19 to blame anti-vaxxers for her death. Beverly Hills/Crystal River On June 14th, 2019, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office Tactical Impact Unit (TIU), in partnership with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) Probation Office, completed the largest drug seizure in the history of the Citrus County Sheriffs Office. 0:37. The residents, 32-year-old Sylvester Welcome and 27-year-old Sharla Welcome, as well as 36-year-old Daniel Harshman, were all arrested. Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated in the raid of a Fort Myers auto. 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. This search led to the arrest of Jeffery Conner for five counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. . Well, Chinese law enforcement has arrested over 900 people, Mother beats daughter and posts it to Facebook, Investigators are looking into a video after someone recorded a mother beating her daughter with a belt and posted, Major controversy after police pulled over a firefighter, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- A major fire is raging after police in Pennsylvania conducted a traffic stop on a man who, Six Marion County Sheriffs Office detention, Ocala, Florida -- Six Marion County Sheriff's Office detention deputies are under investigation after an inmate at the Marion County, Police step in, aid woman who appeared on Dr. Phil, The Ocala Police Department is currently working in collaboration with the State Attorney's Office with the investigation involving Ocala, [Updated July 29, 2014, at 4:50 p.m. to include Winn-Dixie's response] When you receive the Winn-Dixie sale paper do you, Six Marion County Sheriffs Office detention deputies are under investigation following inmates death, FWC wants to further infringe on your right to use certain tackle at the Skyway fishing pier, Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, to open three new exhibitions, Registration now open for summer art camp at CFs Appleton Museum of Art, Visit with Santa at the Paddock Mall, reserve your photo session, Dunnellon, Ocala, and Belleview Christmas Parades, Publix pulls Vidalia onions from shelves due to contamination concerns, HEALTH ALERT : Bumble Bee Foods recalls smoked clams, Florida Department of Health in Marion County announces new changes with COVID-19 vaccinations, Government now giving out free COVID tests, just enter your information, After creating panic and stress for employees, AdventHealth suspends COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Residents say getting through to My Access Florida is just as bad as filing for unemployment, Florida now allowing veterans to be teachers without any experience or teaching certificate, Citizens furious over senate HB 1435, senators say it gives Florida sheriffs too much power, violates previous Supreme Court ruling, Duke Energy Floridas innovative technology reduces outages and saves customers millions of minutes of interruptions, Facebook messenger will snitch on users who take screenshots of messages, Company offering $2,000 to play video games for 21 hours with one friend, How to bypass Floridas unemployment online waiting queue, Major issues with latest Windows 10 update, especially for teachers and students, Hurricae Ian update as it batters the Florida peninsula, Hurricane Ian update, Ian expected to make landfall as catastrophic hurricane, Video: Hurricane Ian changes, warnings, instuctions for Marion County, Tropical Storm Ian likely to have quick uptick in strengthening, Ocala Thieves Selling Items At Yard Sales. Operation Body Shot was an initiative of the sheriff's High Intensity Drug Traffic Area and culminated an 18-month, multi-agency investigation. 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. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. . Investigators searched two different homes last Friday. 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. Copyright 2021 WCJB. Mississippi is currently invoking a state law that will require all welfare recipients to undergo drug testing. Great Investigation by OPD Major Crimes! Possible federal charges are also pending. He also has a history with law enforcement. Balken also sent out a message to those who are struggling with drug addiction. Maj. Out of those 900 cases, 119 people lost their lives. Derrick Price was released from jail on August 9, 2014, at 5:17 a.m. [UPDATED On January 28, 2016, at 9:57p.m.]. Fred Hiers. Undercover detectives arranged to purchase fentanyl from an unidentified source in Mexico for $24,000 per kilo. All rights reserved. Starks is being held on $121,000 bond while Price is being held on $135,500 bond. The investigation peaked on July 9 when agents with the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team arrested the drug ring's leader, Gerald D. Dandridge, and his suspected accomplice, James Johnson, 51 of Silver Springs Shores. Both men were taken into custody on October 12 and told detectives they were being paid to collect money for the fentanyl drug dealer in Mexico. The long-term investigation culminated on Thursday, August 7, 2014, at approximately 5:50 a.m., when the UDEST, along with the assistance of the Marion County Sheriffs Office, and Ocala Police Department SWAT Teams, executed five (5) search warrants. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Marion County Sheriff's Office Makes Major Drug Bust In Ocala. of cocaine valued at over 1.5 million dollars floating in the #FloridaKeys. 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. // ]]> Ocala, Florida A drug ringleader arrested in Marion Oaks yielded weapons, drugs, and a large sum of cash. // ]]> 2013 Ocala Post, a subsidiary of Jaguar Media Holdings, LLC. Criminal arrest history includes DUI-2000, DWLSR-2007, False name to a LEO- 2003, 2007. On Tuesday, agents of the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) arrested 49-year-old Alexis Diaz of North West Palm and 60-year-old Rigoberto Rodriguez of Miami after being called to investigate power theft at 6659 NE 9th Street Road. "We've made some large seizures, but nothing like this," Strow said. 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