33 Charged In Massive Tampa Bay Drug Bust

TAMPA BAY, FL — Thirty-three people are facing charges after a massive drug bust in the Tampa Bay area, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday.

Uthemeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is leading the charge in the drug trafficking case.

Prosecutors accused the large group of selling fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in Tampa Bay. More than 66 ounces of fentanyl, at least 73 ounces of cocaine and eight ounces of methamphetamine were seized during the bust, prosecutors said.

Thirty people have been arrested thus far, but prosecutors said three people remain at large. Three of the accused were already incarcerated in prison, prosecutors said.

Of those who were charged, 15 of them are being charged on suspicion of fentanyl trafficking or conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, and 19 of them face cocaine trafficking or conspiracy to traffic cocaine charges, prosecutors said.

Other charges included trafficking or conspiracy to traffic in illegal substances and violation of the Racketeer and Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, prosecutors said.

“Because of the hard work of our law enforcement partners, enough fentanyl to kill 931,000 Floridians was taken off the streets,” Uthmeier said in a news release. “Let this operation serve as a warning to anyone who dares to sell this poison in Florida: the rule of law will prevail, and you will be found and brought to justice.”

Prosecutors say the following people have been charged:
1. Edward James III, 31

2. Elias Rosario Negron, 60

3. Enid Torres Berrios, 60

4. Jose Alexie Santiago, 25

5. Sidney Mandrell Hall, 39

6. Jerald Jerome Martin, 44

7. Angel Garcia, 22

8. Eliezer Gonzalez Mena, 36

9. Pedro Martinez Flores, 63

10. Carlos Acevedo Varela, 47

11. Ruth Allyn, 63

12. Alfredo Delvalle Ravelo, 55

13. Fernando Cabrera, 69

14. Jamel Benitez Ayala, 45

15. Elsie Tejeda, 52

16. Michelle Velazquez, 49

17. Maria Jose Loaiza, 38

18. Osvaldo Colon, 48

19. Isai Eleazar Alarcon Trigueros, 35

20. Yolymar Ojeda Gomez, 31

21. Jorge Wilfredo Vargas Torres, 23

22. Vicky Garcia, 28

23. Manuel Fernandez Mata, 35

24. William Rivera Diaz, 38 (currently incarcerated at Falkenburg Road Jail on unrelated charges)

25. Elvis Fernandez, 45 (currently incarcerated in Florida State Prison on unrelated charges)

26. Fernando Elias Rosario Torres, 33 (currently incarcerated in Federal Prison Camp Pensacola)

27. Elias Xavier Rosario Torres, 27 (currently incarcerated at Graceville Correctional Facility)

28. Angel Jimenez Torres, 40 (Arrested at his residence by Drug Enforcement Administration Orlando)

29. Alejandro Alzate, 25 (Arrested by Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Motor Vehicle Services)

30. Erika Oquendo Morales, 48