Thirty-Nine Defendants Charged in Joint Federal-Local Narcotics Trafficking Takedown in Coconut Grove

Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade County State Attorney, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division, Michael J. Folmar, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), John F. Timoney, Chief, City of Miami Police Department (MPD), Robert Parker, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), announced federal and state charges against 39 members and associates of a violent drug trafficking organization that operated primarily in the Coconut Grove section of the City of Miami.

This joint investigation began in the Spring of 2007 and focused on long-term narcotics traffickers in the Coconut Grove area of Miami. The undercover resources from DEA, MPD, MDPD, FBI, Coral Gables, and Sunrise Police Departments, and officers from the various other law enforcement agencies, were used to proactively identify individuals selling narcotics in Coconut Grove.

As a result of this proactive investigation, 39 defendants were charged with a myriad of federal and state narcotics violations, including possession and distribution of crack, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Thirty (30) defendants are being prosecuted federally, where they face substantial prison time, from five years to life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Nine (9) defendants are being prosecuted by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, where they also face serious potential jail time.

Acting U. S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Sloman stated, "The U.S. Attorney's Office has a proven track record of destroying local, regional, national and international drug trafficking organizations by arresting and prosecuting their leadership and by seizing their financial infrastructure. That is precisely what we have done today. These arrests have dismantled, from top to bottom, a drug trafficking organization that has held hostage a fine and historic community for nearly a decade."

Katherine Fernandez Rundle, State Attorney for Miami-Dade County, said, "Drug dealers always bring pain and danger into the neighborhoods they work. Coordinated state, federal and local law enforcement efforts, like this one, to remove cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine sellers and traffickers from our streets, make it safer for law-abiding citizens to live their lives in peace as they so properly deserve."

DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville stated, "These arrests demonstrate the commitment of the DEA to infiltrate and dismantle violent, entrenched organizations that traffic drugs in our communities. We would like to commend our federal and state counterparts for their efforts, which contributed to the enormous success of this investigation."

John F. Timoney, Chief of the City Miami Police Department, stated, "This investigation and the resulting prosecutions will rid the community of Coconut Grove of major narcotic traffickers who have put their profit motive ahead of any concern for the well being of the community. It is a great example of what local and federal law enforcement agencies can accomplish when they work towards a common goal. In this case, that goal was removing dangerous criminals from our streets and putting them in jail, where they belong."

FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Folmar added, "With these arrests, a violent criminal organization has been dismantled. The FBI understands the devastating impact drug traffickers have on our communities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to make South Florida a safer place."

Robert Parker, Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department noted, "The success of this investigation is a direct reflection of the commitment and dedication of local and federal law enforcement agencies, working together to keep our community safe from violent criminals. Law enforcement is no longer restricted by jurisdictional boundaries."

Mr. Sloman commended the DEA, City of Miami Police Department, the Miami-Dade Police Department, and the FBI for their long-term efforts on this investigation. Mr. Sloman also thanked the City of Coral Gables Police Department, the Sunrise Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals for their assistance in the success of this operation.

An Indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.