Notorious Drug-Trafficking Winter Haven Family Caught With The Goods: Polk Sheriff

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A notorious Winter Haven family with a long history of illegal drug sales is out of business following an investigation spearheaded by the Polk County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the Lakeland Police Department and Highlands County Sheriff's Office, said Sheriff Grady Judd during a news conference Monday.

As a result of the effort, 12 people including three juveniles were arrested and the sheriff's office seized drugs with a street value of $139,149.

"Members of the Rogers family are very well known to law enforcement and have been arrested many times over the years," Judd said. "They have been a cancer in the Inwood community for a long time, exposing families there to unwanted drug activity, gangs, violence and more. We want these families to know that we're doing everything in our power to put a stop to it."

Among the drugs seized were 224 grams of fentanyl, "enough to kill 95,500 people," said Judd.

Detectives also confiscated 1,366 grams of methamphetamine, 980 grams of cocaine, 900 grams of MDMA (ecstasy), 158 grams of marijuana, about 9 grams of oxycodone and 202 prescription pills.

Judd said several members of the Rogers family, who have lived in multiple homes around 37th Street Northwest in the Inwood neighborhood over the years, have been trafficking drugs and committing other crimes in the area since the 1980s.

On Thursday, the sheriff's organized crime unit executed three simultaneous search warrants at 1303 37th St. NW, 3701 Avenue M NW and 1282 37th St. NW in Inwood with help from the sheriff's SWAT, K-9, homicide, narcotics, drug-trafficking, special investigations, vice, fraud and computer crimes units, and the violent gang investigative task force.

Judd said the family is led by 38-year-old Kenneth "Pop" Rogers of 1282 37th St. NW, who was already in the Polk County Jail after being arrested on April 11 on a warrant. At the time of his arrest, Judd said he was in possession of 15.87 grams of cocaine and $21,305 cash.

According to Judd, Rogers has an arrest record that includes 62 felonies and 22 misdemeanors, and he's been to state prison four times. He was arrested in 2020 during the sheriff's Operation Hot Wire, and was out on bond from that bust when he was arrested again in April.

During the search at 1303 37th St NW, detectives found 152.5 grams of marijuana, 311.15 grams of cocaine, 118.6 grams of methamphetamine and .47grams of fentanyl.

Three people were arrested in the home including 69-year old Odia Rogers, the father of Kenneth "Pop" Rogers, who was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a structure to traffic narcotics, use of a two-way device to commit a felony, and possession of fentanyl, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was previously charged with 14 felonies and six misdemeanors, and spent time in state prison.

Also arrested was 31-year-old Tameka Rogers, the daughter of Odia Rogers, charged with trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of marijuana over 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was previously charged with five felonies and three misdemeanors.

Theresa Prince, 59, the girlfriend of Odia Rogers, was charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to sell, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

During the search at 3701 Avenue M NW, detectives recovered 425.73 grams of MDMA, 277.32 grams of cocaine, 198.94 grams of fentanyl, 8.88 grams of oxycodone, 76 alprazolam pills and a Ruger P65 9mm handgun.

Arrested was 39-year-old Rafel Rogers, son of Odia Rogers, who was charged with armed trafficking in cocaine, armed trafficking in oxycodone, trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in MDMA, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a structure for trafficking narcotics, possession of alprazolam and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He has a record of 43 felonies and 33 misdemeanors, and he's been to state prison twice.

During the search at 1282 37th St. NW, detectives recovered: 359.93 grams of cocaine, 475.15 grams of MDMA, 5.26 grams of marijuana and .18 grams of fentanyl, along with a mechanized pill press machine used to manufacture fentanyl and MDMA pills.

Arrested were 21-year-old Jordan Rogers, grandson of Odia Rogers and son of Rafel, who was charged with trafficking in cocaine and MDMA, possession of a structure to sell narcotics with minors present, possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A 16-year-old girl was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Another 16-year-old was charged with trafficking in cocaine and MDMA, possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A 15-year-old was charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

"It's a family affair," said Judd, adding that his office has been investigating the Rogers family for more than 30 years. "It's an intergenerational event. We have three generations of Rogers who are actively involved in the trafficking and sale of drugs, and we have arrested them again and again. These folks have created death and destruction for many, many families for a very long time."

Two other men accused of being involved in the Rogers family operation were arrested on April 20 and remain in the Polk County Jail.

Among them is 32-year-old Gerard Hall, charged with four counts of trafficking methamphetamine, four counts of possession of a structure for trafficking narcotics, use of a two-way device to commit a felony, possession of cocaine, MDMA and drug paraphernalia. His record includes 22 felony and 12 misdemeanor arrests, and he's been to state prison once.

Alpavin Tucker, 36, was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, amphetamine and heroin, possession of cocaine, a structure for trafficking drugs and drug paraphernalia, and violation of probation. His history includes 17 felonies and 25 misdemeanors. He's served time in state prison twice.

One other Rogers family member, 28-year-old Dominique Rogers, was arrested by the sheriff's office during a May 24 death investigation in which a 19-year-old woman died from a possible drug overdose at another home on 37th Street Northwest.

Dominique Rogers was at the home when deputies arrived and began picking up items from the crime scene. He was charged with resisting arrest and obstruction.

On June 14, Dominique Rogers was arrested again by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and charged with two counts of second-degree murder for a crime that occurred in Manatee County.

Click here to see the full news conference.