During an executed search warrant, at a duplex home on NE 3rd Street in Ocala, detectives found more than six pounds of marijuana, narcotics including fentanyl, guns and other stolen items. This single opportunity to work in cooperation with the Florida Department of Corrections resulted in nearly a million dollars worth of drugs and guns taken off the streets of Citrus County., Citrus County Sheriffs Office |Citrus County Clerk of the Court |Citrus County Fire Rescue |Citrus County Property Appraiser | Inverness Fire Rescue | Citrus County Tax Collector | Citrus County Child Advocacy | Citrus County Below are some of the significant recent UDEST arrests involving illegal narcotics and other crimes: Ocala man with no license arrested after fleeing from MCSO corporal, National Weather Services SKYWARN Storm Spotter class returns to Ocala next week, Applications for Ocala Future Leaders Academy being accepted through March 31, Dunnellon police seek person of interest in theft of vehicle from Walmart parking lot, Ocala Police Department honors first African American female officer, Fire ignites inside vacant mobile home in Belleview, Pavement repairs to cause temporary lane closures on several Marion County roads, Marion County Public Schools to host Career Camp for adults, Resident discusses lack of reliable cellphone service in Ocala, Two Ocala residents voice concerns on rising electric bills, added charges, Two more residents voice their concerns on cellphone service in Ocala/Marion County. (See Attachment for Criminal Arrest History). Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd is demanding answers. "We've made some large seizures, but nothing like this," Strow said. 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Melinda Baker-Ruiz, 34, of 908 Ruth Avenue Lakeland is wanted for Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine over 28 grams, and Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 28 grams. Starks is being held on $121,000 bond while Price is being held on $135,500 bond. Speaking from the county's . Warrants were served at 13785 SW 42nd Court Road, Marion Oaks; 14310 SW 39th Court Road, Marion Oaks; 2713 SW 15th St, Ocala; 1240 SE County Road 484, Apartment E1; and 1240 SE CR 484, Apartment E2. 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. Legal Statement. Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated in the raid of a Fort Myers auto. If convicted, he faces up to 105 years in prison. Javier Flores, between 35-40 years of age and known resident of California is wanted for Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine over 200 grams, Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine over 200 grams, Unlawful Transportation of Currency $100,000 or More, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. Police released these images from the bust. Millard K. Ives of the Star-Banner contributed to this report. 0:00. SILVER SPRINGS SHORES Drug agents arrested one man and seized drugs, a large amount of cash and multiple guns from his home on Wednesday. Luis Villafuerte Rojas, 39, of 2322 View Way, Lakeland. Out of those 900 cases, 119 people lost their lives. Strow said that even though Dandridge didn't have a "day job," he was able to afford a $100,000 truck and $75,000 motorcycle. Two children, ages 1 and 3, were removed from a residence and placed into DCF custody. This all went down at two homes in Silver Springs. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. Pressleys name was not named in the search warrant; she was just an added bonus that happened to be present due to the fact she is in a relationship with Marcus. Law enforcement seized over $1 million in cash, 12 firearms, multiple kilos of cocaine and fentanyl, and several high-end vehicles which are believed to have been purchased with money from drug . Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, he was most recently released from prison in December 2003 after serving eight months on a racketeering violation charge. Eliezer Rodriguez Merced, 32,of 54 Pinetree Road Lawrenceville, Goergia is wanted for Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine over 200 grams, Unlawful Transportation of Currency $50,000 or More and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. He is pleased with the overall outcome of the investigation but wants answers. Maria Widdows, 29, 3604 Glenoak Drive South, Lakeland is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. All rights reserved. Recently, Eric Holder and President Obama announced they want law enforcement agencies to be lenient on drug dealers and individuals arrested for drug offences. Rojas was in the process of obtaining his U.S. citizenship and is currently receiving Federal/public assistance. 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. Out of 25 suspects in the organization, 11 are currently receiving Federal/public assistance, and one suspect, Ma-Concepcion Lopez, that had previously been deported, is back in the United States illegally, and is currently receiving Federal/public assistance. 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. (Fox News). Criminal Arrest History: August 16, 1995 arrest for Retail Theft, by the Polk County Sheriffs Office, November 20, 1995 arrest for Aggravated Battery and Retail Theft, by the Osceola County Sheriffs Office, July 27, 1997 arrest for Failure to Appear, and Operation of a Motor Vehicle without a License, by the Orange County Sheriffs Office, May 28, 2003 arrest for Battery, by the Polk County Sheriffs Office, July 17, 2006 arrest for Trafficking Methamphetamine over 14 Grams, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While License Suspended, by the Osceola County Sheriffs Office, May 29, 209 Criminal Registration, by the Osceola County Sheriffs Office and October 3, 2013 arrest for Trafficking Methamphetamine Over 14 Grams, Child Neglect, Possession of a Cannabis and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, by the Osceola County Sheriffs Office. Marcus Starks, 35, of Marion Oaks, the brother of K.C. Copyright 2021 WCJB. Strow estimates the ring has been responsible for distributing 20 kilograms, or about. Humane Society |Citrus County Animal Services |Florida Travel | Ocala Post. Sheriff Grady Judd said, when certain individuals make national TV appearances and tell the public that drug dealers are not that bad or the offences are not that serious, they are not telling the truth. Debra Tapia, 50, of 2015 Adair Road, Davenport is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine over 14 grams, Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 14 grams, Possession of a Structure Used for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. That's exactly what investigators were hoping would happen when they KO'd the largest drug trafficking ring in Marion County's history. "Taking this much Fentanyl off the streets was a huge win for the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team in Marion County and Ocala because we prevented countless overdose deaths that's caused by this deadly drug," Douglas said. (DEA). Kirkland has been charged with attempted murder, and a number of other drug related charges. Some have multiple charges and some are facing federal prosecution, he said. The owners of Pirate's Cove (3.9 acres of land on the Gulf) say they will try and subdivide the property to build new homes Doctors in Britain reported severe allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine shortly after it had been administered. the largest drug seizures in United States history," U.S. Attorney for the . 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. Dennis Strow of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Mario Alberto Castro Solache, 29, and Pedro Mondragon, 27, drove from North Carolina to Polk County on October 11 to meet with undercover detectives about another fentanyl sale. During the investigation, detectives identified two other suspects out of North Carolina. Voodo Meth Flowchart [Click to enlarge or preview slide show]Polk County, Florida This investigation directly impacts Central Florida as a whole. Mondragon, 34, of 600 S.W. Law enforcement seize 275 marijuana plants in northeast Ocala drug bust By Staff Report September 15, 2021 Local law enforcement agencies seized 275 marijuana plants while investigating power theft at a northeast Ocala residence this week. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW. 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.] After the deal went bad, he found his way to the hospital for treatment of his non-life threatening injuries where police were able to interview him. Miami's independent source of Derrick Price, 43, of Marion Oaks was charged with Trafficking in Oxycodone (x3), Selling Cocaine (x3), Possession of Cocaine (x3), Armed Trafficking in Cocaine, Armed Trafficking in Oxycodone, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Methadone, Possession of Xanax, and Resisting Arrest. Alfredo Ortiz-Hernandez, 25, of 750 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista, California is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic in Meth over 200 grams, Trafficking in Meth over 200 grams. Five people were arrested. All rights reserved. Antifreeze and hand sanitizer are not the same thing, How to bypass Floridas unemployment online waiting queue, Major issues with latest Windows 10 update, especially for teachers and students, Two camera apps removed from Google Play, consumers should immediately delete them, I-75 northbound lanes closed following fatal crash, Letter to the Editor: Stop allowing Crystal River to be destroyed, Deputy drives his car into a retention ditch, Bright Beginnings Learning Academy & Preschool is Now Enrolling new students, hurry before seats are full, Do not call 911 to report people setting off fireworks, not an emergency and its legal, Crystal River teen arrested, attempted to sell stolen gun via Snapchat. All rights reserved. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. It all stemmed from a shooting on Sunday. Caton is currently receiving Federal/public assistance. They were charged with marijuana cultivation, while Diaz was additionally charged with trafficking in cannabis. -. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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 purest form of Meth, which is ICE. Ocala Newspaper - News without hiding the truth, 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.] 26. Starks, 42, of Marion Oaks, was charged with Selling Cocaine (x3), Possession of Cocaine (x3), Trafficking in Oxycodone, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (x2), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Northwest Florida / 1 day ago. Sheriff Grady Judd promises that he will find the remaining fugitives and lock them up from civilization. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Voodo Meth Flowchart [Click to enlarge or preview slide show] Polk County, Florida This investigation directly impacts Central Florida as a whole. Both men are being held without bond. Sheriff Judd wants to know how an illegal Mexican of whom is a convicted felon was able to cross over the border making reentry into the United States, travel to Florida, then walk into a public assistance office where she was able to obtain welfare. Is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, and a number of other related... 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