Alleged drug ring busted: Eight charged with dealing meth and cocaine

FLORIDA – Eight people have been charged with the distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO), the eight defendants were arrested April 18 on a 12-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine.

The indictment alleges that Alain Romero, 33, of Hialeah Gardens, Mauricio Herrera, 40, of Hialeah, Anthony Lee Davis, 27, of Naples, David Martinez Ortega, 35, of Naples, Patricia Correa Ramirez, 28, of Miami, Andy Cabrera, 28, of Miami, and Yanker Perez-Diaz, 34, of Westland, Michigan, reportedly a member of the Latin Kings gang in Miami, were part of a drug trafficking organization that trafficked methamphetamine and cocaine in Florida.

According to the allegations in the indictment, Mr Martinez and Mr Davis distributed the drugs from Naples to Miami, at the direction of Oscar David Cardona, 29, of Miami, another member of the Latin Kings gang.

Davis and Martinez were arrested in Naples, Perez-Diaz was arrested in Westland, and Herrera, Ortega, Cabrera, and Ramirez were arrested in Miami.

The arrests were coordinated between the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, and Eastern District of Michigan.

Mr Cardona was arrested in Miami-Dade County on Aug. 31, 2023, for an alleged state probation violation. He is currently in state custody.

On April 19, Davis and Martinez made their initial appearances in the Middle District of Florida, Perez-Diaz appeared in the Eastern District of Michigan, and Herrera, Ortega, Ramirez, and Cabrera made their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida.

If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison, criminal fines of up to $10,000,000, and a period of supervised release of up to life.

The DEA Miami Field Division, HSI Miami, USMS Miami, USPIS Miami, MDPD, BSO, Homestead PD, Hollywood PD, Miami Police Department, CCSO, and FHP investigated the case with assistance from the DEA Miami Field Division, Homestead and Fort Myers Resident Offices as well as the DEA Detroit Field Division (and their local police departments). The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Florida and Eastern District of Michigan provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yara Dodin is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.