32 Arrested In Massive FL Crackdown On Drugs

BARTOW, FL — Thirty-two people, including the man accused of selling a 65-year-old woman drugs that caused her to fatally overdose, were recently arrested in a large-scale operation in Bartow.

"I got the drip," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference held Friday. "I got the money. We got their guns. We got their dope."

Judd said "Operation Capital City Crackdown" resulted in the arrests of a known kingpin and his workers and traffickers. More than $150,000 in drugs were seized, authorities said in a news release.

Multiple agencies combined to lead the investigation, which included six wiretaps and nine search warrants.

Authorities spent about two months intercepting the wires, during which Judd said they overheard a conversation regarding the death of the woman who was sold the drugs.

According to the sheriff, she purchased multiple drugs from Troy Walker on a Saturday night and took some of them.

The next morning, as she headed to church, Judd said the victim walked out of the house and collapsed, ultimately dying from an overdose. She was not identified, and Judd said Walker faces a first-degree murder charge in her death.

Walker works for the suspected head of the drug operation, Nathaniel "Nate" Donald, Judd said.

"So she died so Nate can have his drip" the sheriff said, wearing a gold chain he said was recovered during the sting. "He's buying this drip by selling drugs to people on the street, one of which died."

"Drip" is the colloquial terminology for a person's attire, or gear, including expensive jewelry.

In total, the operation led to the seizure of:

• $7,016 cash
• Four firearms
• 22 pounds of marijuana
• 26.72 grams of fentanyl – capable of killing 13,360 people
• 1.5 pounds of powder and crack cocaine
• Half of methamphetamine
• 48 opioid pills including hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxycodone
• 1.7 pounds of MDMA (ecstasy)
• 1.5 pounds of ketamine
• $46,500 in assets (jewelry)

Cracking Down On The 'Head Of The Snake'

Judd said the state attorney's office is seeking the maximum penalty against the defendants in this case.

He accused the suspects of repeating behaviors, even while out on bond for trafficking drugs, and spending years dealing narcotics in Bartow.

But for Donald, Judd said he is the "tip of the spear" and the "head of the snake."

Donald is "not a pharmacist, but those under his command will make sure you have marijuana, fentanyl, crack cocaine, MDMA, (and) all kinds of pills," Judd said.

Though Walker was accused of selling illegal drugs to the woman who died, Judd said Bryan Myrick was the person to sell crack cocaine to Walker for redistribution.

Herbert Merricks, who was out on bond, was accused of selling Myrick's pills; and in turn, Judd said Myrick sold Merrick's cocaine.

Elijah Golshan-Nejad was accused of being a marijuana dealer who provided 11 pounds of the drug to Myrick.

"These people will never quit selling dope if they're not locked up, and people die," Judd said of the arrestees.

Among those facing charges are Donald's brother and Maickol Caballero-Medina, a Venezuelan national who was suspected of unlawfully being in the U.S.

Caballero-Medina was arrested after being caught with a pound of ketamine, Judd said. After making bond on a drug trafficking charge, Judd said an immigration hold was placed on him and he was picked up by federal authorities, who deported him.

Even so, Judd said Caballero-Medina must answer the trafficking charge; and once he is back in the U.S., Judd said he could be arrested and be denied bond.

Acknowledging the issue of drug trafficking in Bartow, authorities say the defendants repetitively sell drugs in Polk County's "Capital City."

"They're a menace to society. ... They've got to stay in prison, or people die. … Whoevever tells you that narcotics (are) low-level and non violent, they're crazy. God bless you all," Judd said.

He later continued: "They don't even stop for the period of time that the hammer is over their head. ... They ignore the criminal justice system. They ignore society. They don't care if your children die as long as they can wear their drip and sell drugs and use guns to intimidate the community. These are not first-timers. They're not second-timers. … (They are an) experienced group of people who have owned Bartow for a very long time."

"Operation Capital City Crackdown" included local, state and federal authorities, including the State Attorney's Office.

"Drug traffickers don't have a safe haven," said Brannon Shealy, assistant special agent in charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Tampa Bay office. "They don't know juridicutional boundaries … but we have these boundaries covered."

Judd asked the community to work with law enforcement on the matter.

These people were arrested in the massive operation, per authorities:

Troy Cortez Walker, 48, of Bartow: first-degree murder, conspiracy to purchase cocaine (six counts), conspiracy to purchase oxycodone (two counts), conspiracy to sell cocaine (one count), unlawful use of two way communication device, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of cannabis under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bryan Bernard Myrick, 42, of Bartow: conspiracy to traffic cocaine over 28 grams (two counts), Conspiracy to sell cocaine (35 counts), conspiracy to sell oxycodone (two counts), conspiracy to sell MDMA (three counts), conspiracy to sell cannabis (65 counts), conspiracy to purchase alprazolam (two counts), unlawful use of two way communication device, trafficking in methamphetamine over 200 grams, trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, trafficking in fentanyl over 14 grams, trafficking in MDMA, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, possession of cannabis with the intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a residence to traffic drugs, possession of oxycodone, possession of hydrocodone, possession of hydromorphone, and violation of probation.

Nathaniel Demond Donald, 43, of Bartow: conspiracy to traffic cocaine over 28 grams (three counts), conspiracy to sell cocaine (seven counts), conspiracy to sell cannabis (two counts), unlawful use of two way communication device, traffic cocaine 28 grams (two counts), maintain a structure/conveyance for drug trafficking (tw counts), possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of oxycodone, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Isaiah Donald II, 54, of Bartow: conspiracy to sell cocaine (two counts), unlawful use of two way communication device, traffic Cocaine over 28 grams, maintain a structure for drug trafficking, possession of paraphernalia.

Elijah Golshan-Nejad, 23, of Orlando: conspiracy to sell cannabis (four counts), unlawful use of two way communication device, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, maintain a conveyance for drug sale, possession of paraphernalia.

Chalese Leshelle Boatwright, 36, of Lake Wales: conspiracy to sell cannabis (three counts), unlawful use of two way communication device.

Emily Grace Troup, 26, of Bartow: conspiracy to sell cocaine (one count), conspiracy to sell cannabis (three counts), unlawful use of two way communication device.

Gloria Awilda Nazario, 37, of Bartow: conspiracy to sell cannabis (seven counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Gomorrah Clayton Myrick, 62, of Lakeland: conspiracy to sell cocaine (two counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Herbert Emanuel Merricks III, 42, of Lakeland: conspiracy to traffic cocaine over 28 grams (one count), conspiracy to sell alprazolam (two counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Jesus Gonzalez, 46, of Lake Wales: conspiracy to traffic cocaine over 28 grams (one count), conspiracy to sell cocaine (four counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Johnnie Stacy II, 40, of Mulberry: conspiracy to sell cocaine (one count), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Lydell Brown, 55, of Bartow: conspiracy to sell MDMA (three counts), conspiracy to sell cannabis (seven counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Maurice Lamar Garrison, 43, of Lakeland: conspiracy to sell cocaine (13 counts), conspiracy to sell cannabis (five counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Michael Anthony Lewis, 42, of Lakeland: conspiracy to sell cocaine (three counts), unlawful use of a two communication device.

Qua’nisha Daphene Reaves, 32, of Bartow: conspiracy to sell cannabis (11 counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Steven Lynn Baker, 54, of Fort Meade: conspiracy to sell cocaine (two counts), conspiracy to sell cannabis (four counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Willie Barber, 41, of Bartow: conspiracy to sell cocaine (10 counts), conspiracy to sell cannabis (13 counts), unlawful use of a two way communication device.

Kimani Naivasha Vinetha Cook, 33, of Bartow: conspiracy to sell cannabis (six counts), unlawful use of two way communication device.

Shania Hawthorne, 26, of Lake Alfred: possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, provide false identification to LEO.

Frederick Smith, 54, of Bartow: possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, provide false name to LEO, violation of probation.

Eboni Moran, 27, of Bartow: trafficking in methamphetamine over 200 grams, trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, trafficking in fentanyl over 14 grams, trafficking in MDMA, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, possession of cannabis with the intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a residence to traffic drugs, possession of oxycodone, possession of hydrocodone and possession of hydromorphone.

Maickol Caballero-Medina, 24, of Bartow: traffic in phenethylam, maintain a structure for drug trafficking, possession of paraphernalia.

Pearlie Williams, 47, of Lake Wales: possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis 20 grams, maintain a conveyance for drug use, possession of paraphernalia, driving while license suspended/revoked.

Princess Coney, 66, of Bartow: possession of cocaine, possession of paraphernalia.

Belinda Snell, 64, of Bartow: possession of cocaine, possession of paraphernalia.

Brenton Ammons, 42, of Bartow: traffic in cocaine over 28 grams, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, maintain a structure for trafficking, possession of paraphernalia.

Murray Randolph, 35, of Bartow: possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis under 20 grams, possession of paraphernalia.

Archie Rogers Jr, 66, of Bartow: possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, maintain a structure for drug sales, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, possession of paraphernalia.

Charles McCray, 45, of Lake Wales: possession of cocaine, possession of paraphernalia, resist officer without violence, provide false name to LEO.

Jahcel Wilson, 48, of Bartow: traffic cocaine over 28 grams, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, maintain a structure/vehicle for drug trafficking, possession of paraphernalia, possession of cannabis under 20 grams, possession of prescription drug without prescription.

Anthony Sanders, 51, of Bartow: sale of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of cannabis under 20 grams, maintain conveyance/structure for drug sales, possession of paraphernalia (two counts).