Two dozen alleged gang members busted: FDLE

FLORIDA —Several members of an alleged major drug trafficking organization reportedly operated by gang members affiliated with Mexican drug cartels have been busted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the agency has announced.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), its agents arrested 24 SUR 13 gang members charged with various crimes, including conspiracy to commit murder, directing the activities of a criminal gang, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery upon a prison inmate, racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and trafficking in numerous controlled substances including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and morphine.

The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution partnered with FDLE on this case, the FDLE said.

According to an investigation, members of the SUR 13 gang, also known as Sureños, allegedly operated a drug trafficking organization from behind bars. Authorities said they seized more than 50 pounds, or 23 kilograms, of fentanyl, reportedly enough to kill more than 11 million Floridians or approximately half the state’s population, said Attorney General Ashley Moody.

This case, combined with several other drug busts over the past few months, brings the total amount of fentanyl seized in Florida to nearly 85 pounds, enough to kill everyone in 66 of Florida’s 67 counties, Moody said.

“The prevalence of this dangerous substance poses a critical threat not only to the wellbeing of the citizens of our state but also our nation,” Moody said.

According to the investigation, incarcerated leaders of SUR-13 operated a drug trafficking operation from within Florida prisons. At times, reportedly working with fellow gangs MS-13 and the Latin Kings, the criminal organization’s ruling body—called the Mesa—authorized member requests to execute other inmates and continue the distribution of drugs sourced from Mexico and California, Moody said in a statement.

According to Moody’s announcement, members of SUR-13 used contraband cell phones to contact each other from different prisons throughout the state, including Brevard, Charlotte, Holmes, and Miami-Dade counties. Gang members allegedly kept contact with area drug dealers outside the prisons to facilitate drug shipments and deliveries.

Over the course of the investigation, authorities said they seized more than 50 pounds, or 23.59 kilograms, of fentanyl, 380 pounds, or 172.37 kilograms, of methamphetamines, approximately five pounds, or 2.2 kilograms, of cocaine, approximately one pound, or 566 grams, of oxycodone, one pound, or 453.6 grams, of black tar heroin and a half pound, or 226.8 grams, of morphine.

Moody said her Statewide Prosecutors are charging the defendants with 64 total felony counts.

According to Moody the defendants are: Hugo E. Cruz, aka Houdini; Carlos H. Martinez, aka Carlos Maya-Reyes, aka Indio; Rachel Gonzalez, aka Loka; Adolfo Magana, Jr.; Brayn L. Trejo; Dennis A. Perkins; Reba B. Perkins; Juan Carlos Cruz, aka Spider, aka Arana; Joseph W. Whitehead, Jr.; Juan S. Guijosa, Jr.; Omar Hernandez; Valentin Gomez; Esmeralda Guevara; Andres Bustamante; Johnny Cisnero; Franklin Guillen Lara; Jose Francisco Ramirez, aka Chico; Ruben Quinones, aka Yago; Efren Berumen, aka Brownie, aka Brown Aguila; Jonathan Martinez aka J-Blue; Stephanie Martinez, aka Lady Blue; Thomas E. Busby, II, aka Gutta; Mary Osorio; Jose F. Martinez, aka Guapo; Gregory Enegess, aka Poet.

FDLE is the lead law enforcement agency making arrests in this case.

Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Tim Donnelly of Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.