TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment, charging eight additional defendants with federal drug trafficking offenses. The indictment arises from an investigation that previously resulted in charges against twelve other defendants for offenses stemming from a long-term investigation into drug trafficking. The newly charged defendants are...

OCALA, Fla. – A federal jury today found Eric Pedro Valdez, 39, of Atlanta, guilty of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Valdez was indicted on Oct. 11, 2017. According to...

ORLANDO, Fla.– A federal judge sentenced Juan Alberto Flores-Jimenez, age 34, a/k/a Juan Cantu, a/k/a Stoner, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, to 17 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Flores-Jimenez had pleaded guilty on Feb. 7, 2019. According to...

MIAMI – Five Perrine residents were arrested this morning for their involvement in a drug trafficking network believed to be the largest source of narcotics supply in the neighborhood of Perrine, as part of the Southern District of Florida’s Violence Reduction Partnership initiative. The criminal complaint charges Tedrick “Ted” King...

Jacksonville, Fla. – Lonnie Jack Trowell, 31, of Lake City, Fla., was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Trowell had pleaded guilty on March 15, 2019. According to...

Tallahassee, Fla. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging eight defendants with 83 counts of federal dogfighting offenses stemming from an investigation into drug trafficking and a large-scale illegal dogfighting operation involving approximately 100 dogs. Most of the dogs used by the defendants were recovered by...

Orlando, Fla. – Andrew Shettler, aka “Yeti,” 36, of Daytona Beach, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Shettler had pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2019. According to court documents, in April 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and...

FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Samuel Martinez, 40, of Highlands County, has been charged by indictment with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a...

TAMPA, Fla. – Ruben Longoria, Jr., 31, of Dallas, aka “Scooter,” was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison today for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Texas into the Middle District of Florida. Longoria had pleaded guilty on Jan. 29, 2019. According to court documents, Longoria was...

ORLANDO, Fl a. - Jose Ramon Rivera (23, Orlando) was sentenced to 10 years and 11 months in federal prison for distributing heroin and methamphetamine, possessing firearms as a convicted felon, and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. Rivera pleaded guilty on July 12, 2018. According to court documents...