FLORIDA — Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (OSP) said it is set to prosecute 12 defendants of an alleged drug trafficking organization accused of trafficking cocaine, fentanyl, xylazine, and amphetamine in the Orlando area.
The organization is accused of trafficking large quantities of illicit narcotics from out of state, including over 400 grams of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.
“I have been warning about the presence and proliferation of the zombie drug xylazine being mixed with already deadly fentanyl for months now,” said Moody.
“This extremely dangerous and flesh-eating drug is outlawed in Florida, and we will aggressively prosecute any criminal organization trafficking this poison across judicial circuits in our state. I am grateful for our dedicated law enforcement partners for shutting down this ring and cutting off this lethal supply chain.”
The investigation reportedly began after the Orange County Sheriff’s Office received information from various informants about a drug trafficking organization operating throughout the Oak Ridge area of Orange County.
Members of the narcotics unit allegedly conducted multiple controlled purchases from several members of the organization of fentanyl mixed with xylazine and cocaine.
The investigation reportedly revealed that the drugs came from a supplier in New Jersey.
The Florida Highway Patrol said it intercepted several organization members in Volusia County with more than 400 grams of fentanyl and xylazine in the trunk of a vehicle.
Throughout the investigation, members of the drug trafficking organization are alleged to have committed several other crimes, including conspiracy to traffic fentanyl greater than 28 grams, trafficking amphetamine greater than 28 grams, money laundering, multiple sales and deliveries, and conspiracies to sell and deliver.
According to the OSP, the following defendants have been arrested:
- Andrew Curby
- Erin Ann Donato
- Jesse Owen Harris
- Marvin Robert Hutchinson
- Warren Dennard Jackson, Jr
- Matthew Maliska Jr.
- Ryan Meng
- Alexander Pavlov
- Efrain Rosario, Jr.
- Chantal Thompson
- Scott Thompson
- Jazzmeen Ashley UnderdueMontanez
Combined, the defendants are charged with 52 felony counts ranging from money laundering and possession of cocaine to conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, which carries a 25-year mandatory minimum.
Attorney General Moody’s Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Ashley Wright will prosecute the cases.
