News and Investigations

During 2018 and 2019, the Polk County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) – which includes PCSO, Bartow PD, Haines City PD, and Lake Wales PD - conducted a large-scale joint Methamphetamine drug trafficking investigation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Office of State Attorney Brian Haas (10th Judicial Circuit), and U.S. Border Patrol, which resulted in the arrests of 44 suspects; 3 warrants; the seizure of 50 pounds of Methamphetamines (street value - $1.4 Million) and $50,000 in U.S. currency and assets; and the recovery of four firearms. Of those arrested, 9 are in the country illegally and one was previously deported back to Mexico and has a Polk County warrant for his arrest.

The suspects are collectively charged with 85 felonies and 50 misdemeanors. They’ve been previously arrested and charged with a total of 392 felonies and 325 misdemeanors, and previously convicted of a total of 94 felonies and 142 misdemeanors.

Click here to see the news conference on our YouTube page.

“These drug traffickers and drug dealers are what some in the Florida legislature refer to as ‘low-level, non-violent drug offenders.’ Some politicians want to release drug traffickers early from prison, lower their sentences, or avoid putting them in prison all together. But make no mistake: everything about Meth is violent and destructive. It destroys lives, ruins families, and kills people. Meth equals death. If meth doesn’t kill you outright, it relentlessly kills you over time. These drug dealers have blood on their hands. They make money off of the misery of others. They use violence as a means to enforce their business rules. Everything about what they do is violent to our communities and our quality of life. The next time a politician tells you that that trafficking in meth, heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and other illegal street drugs is non-violent, low-level crime, tell them they are not operating in the realm of reality.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

“While this drug trafficking ring was difficult to infiltrate and there were multiple offenders, the persistence of detectives and agents was unrelenting,” said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen. “Thanks to the tremendous work of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, our various partners and our agents, we’ve sent a message to traffickers that drugs won’t be tolerated in our back yard.”

According to Dr. Stephen Nelson, Medical Examiner for the 10th District, in 2017, there were 68 Meth-related deaths for the year – of those, 50 deaths were directly caused by Meth (the other 18 deaths occurred when Meth was present in the deceased person’s system). 

According to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, in 2017, 464 people died in Florida as a direct result of Methamphetamines, an increase of 42 percent from 2016; and an additional 394 deceased persons had Meth present in their system, an increase of 38 percent from 2016.

This investigation began when PCSO received information that 45-year-old Acencion Zarate-Najera was running an illegal drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of Meth throughout the southern United States. 

Detectives learned that the Meth was being brought in from Mexico to California, and then delivered to Polk County and other areas, such as Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. 

On April 10, 2019, detectives arrested Acencion Zarate-Najera, DOB 08/15/1973, and charged him with conspiracy to traffic in Meth (F-1), conspiracy to traffic in heroin (F-1), illegal use of a two-way communication device (F-3), and no valid DL (M-2). He’s being held on $505,250 bond, and is on an ICE hold. 

Zarate-Najera’s trafficking in heroin charge stems from information received by PCSO that he facilitated the delivery of 4 kilos of heroin to South Carolina (street value of $400,000). The S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED) assisted PCSO.

His criminal history includes 1 prior felony and 6 prior misdemeanors, including previous arrests for trafficking in cocaine, possession of meth and marijuana, driving without a license, battery, and DUI. 

On March 1, 2019, PCSO detectives began surveillance on five of Zarate-Najera’s associates. PCSO detectives and FDLE agents observed the five suspects meeting at a restaurant in Haines City, where they facilitated the delivery of an SUV. The detectives and agents followed the SUV to a residence on 7th Street North in Haines City, and executed a search warrant, during which they seized 24 pounds of Meth that was concealed inside the SUV, along with $4,900 in U.S. currency.

Also on March 1, 2019, a PCSO undercover detective arranged to purchase 2 kilograms of Meth for $20,000 from George Lopez at Lopez’s home in Polk City. Lopez distributes Meth for Acencion Zarate-Najera. The undercover detective had previously purchased Meth from Lopez. After the transaction, detectives placed Lopez under arrest, and located a handgun in his waistband. They also seized $8,500 in U.S. currency, marijuana, and a second handgun. In all, detectives seized approximately 6.8 pounds of Meth from Lopez.

Lopez’s live-in girlfriend, Cira Isabel Zarate-Bermudez, is the daughter of Acencion Zarate-Najera. She was seen delivering payments to her father for illegal drug activities, and participated in Meth sales with her boyfriend. 

Another principal in the organization, Marco Antonio Orozco-Ascencio, was deported to Mexico in November 2018. In February 2019, detectives learned he was facilitating large-scale Meth transactions from Mexico, and arranging meetings between George Lopez and Otoniel Valdez-Mendoza. Detectives obtained a warrant for Marco’s arrest (see bottom of news release). 

During the investigation, detectives and agents executed search warrants at 7 locations in east Polk County:

• 1513 SR 559, #196, Polk City
• 1416 US Hwy 17-92 North, Davenport
• 421 Pelican Drive, Winter Haven
• 4528 Country Trails Drive, Polk City
• 513 North 7th Street, Haines City
• 6506 US Hwy 17-92 North, Davenport
• 1318 Adair Road, Davenport

On March 1, 2019, detectives arrested 6 suspects:

George Lopez, DOB 09/23/1996, arrested and charged with armed trafficking in Meth (F-1), use of a structure to traffic in controlled substances (F-2), possession of marijuana over 20 grams (F-3), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1). He’s being held on $256,500 bond. 

Otoniel Valdez-Mendoza, DOB 03/18/1986, charged with conspiracy to traffic in Methamphetamine (F-1), and no valid DL (M-2). He’s being held on no bond, and he’s on an ICE hold. Otoniel was supplying Meth to the Roy and Eddie Rodriguez, brothers in Plant City (see last week’s HCSO news release “Operation Ice Cubed” for more details). He has a prior arrest for battery domestic violence.

Margarito Valdez-Cuevas, DOB 08/09/1986, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), conspiracy to traffic in Meth (F-1), use of a vehicle to traffic controlled substance (F-1), possession of drug paraphernalia (M-1). He’s being held on $400,500 bond, and he’s on an ICE hold. His criminal history includes previous arrests for battery domestic violence, DUI, DWLSR, vandalism, possession of marijuana, and he has been previously deported.

Jorge Zamora-Mendoza, DOB 11/27/1990, charged with conspiracy to traffic in Meth (F-1). He’s being held on $250,000 bond, and he’s on an ICE hold.

Jose Chavez-Cuevas, DOB 06/17/1988, charged with conspiracy to traffic in Meth (F-1), and no valid DL (M-2). He’s being held on $250,250 bond, and he’s on an ICE hold. His criminal history includes previous arrests for felony domestic violence and child abuse, and he’s previously been deported.

Pablo Valdez-Mendoza, DOB 06/11/1992, charged with conspiracy to traffic in Meth (F-1). He’s being held on $250,000 bond, and he’s on an ICE hold.

On April 22, 2019, detectives arrested 14 suspects:

Angela Slocumb, DOB 01/26/62, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), maintaining a structure to traffic drugs (F-3), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); they located a safe in her home located at 224 South Froden Road in Lake Wales, which contained ¾ lb. of Meth and $6,440 in U.S. currency. She has 9 prior felonies and 10 prior misdemeanors, including possession of Meth WITS and distribution of Meth. 

Oscar Vaca-Gamez, DOB 11/10/87, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 9 prior felonies and 9 prior misdemeanors, including aggravated battery causing bodily harm, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 

Betsy Magana, DOB 04/09/89, charged with possession of Meth (F-3), possession of marijuana (M-1), possession of paraphernalia (M-1); she told detectives she’s receiving government assistance. She has 5 prior felonies and 6 prior misdemeanors, including child cruelty, child neglect, and she attempted to smuggle cocaine into jail when arrested during this operation. 

David Wayne Evans, DOB 05/08/76, charged with possession of Meth (F-3), possession of marijuana (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); he has 4 prior felonies and 2 prior misdemeanors, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Mary Evans, DOB 10/13/78, charged with possession of Meth (F-3), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); she has 2 prior misdemeanors. 

Juan Carlos Puga, DOB 12/20/70, charged with possession of Meth (F-3), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); he has 6 prior misdemeanors. 

Roger Fluty, DOB 02/07/66, charged with possession of Meth (F-3), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 3 prior misdemeanors. 

James Parnell, DOB 02/03/82, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 1 prior felony and 2 prior misdemeanors. 

Melissa Ceja, DOB 04/25/72, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); she has 18 prior felonies and 10 prior misdemeanors. 

Lindsey Dawn Suters, DOB 03/29/88, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); she has 10 prior felonies and 16 prior misdemeanors. 

Fernando Lopez, Jr., DOB 05/25/89, charged with possession of Meth (F-3), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3);

James Willard Robinson, DOB 03/07/43, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 32 prior felonies and 8 prior misdemeanors, including incest, robbery, escape, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, furnishing a weapon to a minor, sale of cocaine and Meth. 

Charles Wayne Walker, DOB 04/11/85, charged with possession of Meth (F-3), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); he has 17 prior felonies and 17 prior misdemeanors, including aggravated assault on a LEO and aggravated fleeing to elude. 

Heric Raya, DOB 12/10/89, charged with conspiracy to traffic in Meth (F-1), use of a structure to traffic drugs (F-2); possession of marijuana (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); Raya was arrested in Hillsborough County and is in the Hillsborough County Jail. He has 2 prior misdemeanors. 

23 other suspects arrested during this undercover operation are:

Jose Emanuel Rebollar, DOB 04/21/89, charged with armed trafficking in Meth (F-C), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F-2), possession of cocaine WITS (F-3), resisting arrest (M-1), possession of marijuana (M-1), possession of paraphernalia (M-1); Rebollar is currently serving a 25-year sentence in state prison for these charges. He has 15 prior felonies and 23 prior misdemeanors, including grand theft of a firearm, trafficking in Meth, and possession of marijuana WITS. 

Edilberto Mojica, DOB 07/18/85, charged with armed trafficking in Meth (F-C), possession of Meth WITS (F-2), possession of firearm by a convicted felon (F-2), grand theft of a firearm (F-3), possession of paraphernalia (M-1), and no valid DL (M-2); he has 18 prior felonies and 11 prior misdemeanors, including armed trafficking in Meth, burglary of an occupied dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted fleon, and grand theft of a firearm. 

Ty William Shulze, DOB 08/15/70, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of marijuana (M-1), possession of MDMA (F-3), and VOP – poss Meth (M-2); he has 14 prior felonies and 7 prior misdemeanors, including trafficking in Meth. 

Jesus Torres-Almanza, DOB 12/24/66, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of vehicle for drug trafficking (F-2), possession of paraphernalia (M-1), and no valid DL (M-2); he has 2 prior felonies and 4 prior misdemeanors. 

Martin Delgado, Jr., DOB 05/21/88, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of vehicle for drug trafficking (F-2), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); he has 9 prior felonies and 18 prior misdemeanors, including battery on LEO, burglary with battery, and resisting arrest with violence. 

Cesar Alonso Rincon-Ayala, DOB 01/27/91, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of paraphernalia (M-1), and no valid DL (M-2); he has 1 prior felony and 3 prior misdemeanors. 

Richard Emmett Walker, DOB 09/05/55, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of vehicle for drug trafficking (F-2), possession of alprazolam (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); he has 18 prior felonies and 5 prior misdemeanors, including homicide, carrying a concealed firearm, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

Tracy Walls, DOB 06/08/68, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of structure for drug trafficking (F-2), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); she has 16 prior felonies and 29 prior misdemeanors. 

Leeah Bowman Jones, DOB 02/06/85, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of vehicle for drug trafficking (F-2), possession of marijuana (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); she has 18 prior felonies and 18 prior misdemeanors, including possession of a weapon on school grounds. 

David Eugene Hayward, DOB 02/12/65, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of structure for drug trafficking (F-2), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); he has 13 prior felonies and 13 prior misdemeanors, including kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drug trafficking, and possession of Meth WITS.

Cinnamon Thomas, DOB 12/01/69, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of vehicle for drug trafficking (F-2), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); she has 10 prior felonies and 8 prior misdemeanors, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and trafficking in Meth.

Rosa Maria Francisca-Puente, DOB 08/08/93, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), possession of marijuana (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1);

Cira Zarate-Bermudez, DOB 03/27/94, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3), and resisting arrest (M-1); 

Eddie Rodriguez, DOB 12/17/93, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 15 prior felonies and 6 prior misdemeanors, including armed trafficking in Meth and possession of marijuana WITS.

Keven Rivera-Rivera, DOB 11/23/95, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 2 prior felonies and 8 prior misdemeanors. 

Roy Rodridguez, DOB 06/26/95, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 19 prior felonies, 12 prior misdemeanors, including aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and delivery of controlled substance. 

Mara Valenzuela, DOB 05/02/75, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), trafficking in meth (F-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1);

Hector Miguel Ramirez, DOB 01/03/91, charged with conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), trafficking in meth (F-1), maintain a structure for trafficking drugs (F-2), possession of marijuana (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); 

Orval James Miller, DOB 12/26/68, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), maintain a structure for trafficking drugs (F-2), possession of marijuana (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); he has 46 prior felonies and 20 prior misdemeanors, including armed robbery and burglary with battery. 

Rickey Edwards Johnson, DOB 05/14/64, charged with trafficking in Meth (F-1), possession of alprazolam (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1); he has 28 prior felonies and 29 prior misdemeanors, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and drug trafficking. 

Tereso Orduno-Celis, DOB 05/19/74, possession of Meth (F-3), possession of paraphernalia (M-1), and resisting arrest (M-1); he is also on an ICE hold.

Roman Alberto Rodallegas, DOB 12/12/94, charged with possession of Meth (F-3), possession of marijuana (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1);

Jesus Lopez-Bernal, DOB 01/15/2000, charged with possession of marijuana (M-1), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1);

WANTED:

The following 3 suspects have Polk County warrants for their arrests:

Marco Antonio Orozco-Ascencio, DOB 12/01/82, who is believed to be in Mexico, for charges of conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 4 prior felonies and 3 prior misdemeanors, including carrying a concealed firearm, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and aggravated battery. 

Luis Rivera-Latorre, DOB 04/04/90, for charges of conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 7 prior felonies and 1 prior misdemeanor, including trafficking in Meth. 

Kevin Mannion, DOB 01/27/89, for charges of conspiracy to traffic Meth (F-1), and illegal use of two-way communication device (F-3); he has 31 prior felonies and 12 prior misdemeanors, including armed burglary, grand theft of a firearm, and aggravated fleeing to elude.