Federal indictment: 27 defendants charged in Florida Keys drug conspiracy

FLORIDA — More than two dozen have been charged in a Florida Keys-based drug trafficking indictment.

On Thursday, the United States unsealed an indictment charging 27 defendants, including Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority employees, commercial charter boat operators, and a former City of Marathon employee, with federal drug and firearm offenses in and around the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County.

The 13-count indictment charges John Robert Strama Jr., 42, of Marathon, Rusty John Stiglitz, 39, of Marathon, Daniel Fernando Ramirez, 43, of Key West, Daniel Delgado, 38, of Miami Springs, Orlando Rene Gonzalez, 29, of Hialeah, Alfred Michael Nunez, 34, of Marathon, Elvis Lazaro Ruiz, 31, of Marathon, Pedro Luis Lugo Jr., 36, of Marathon, Nyran Antonio Ross, 32, of Marathon, and Tyrell Lamar Williams, 36, of Marathon, with conspiring with each other, their co-defendants, and others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more grams of cocaine in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties.

The indictment charges Louis Charles Arvelo, 38, of Boca Raton, Andrew Hamill Hunt, 36, of Marathon, Kevin Andrew Yeider, 46, of Marathon, Jose Enrique Olivo Sanchez, 34, of Marathon, Kenyatta Scott Jr., 32, of Key West, Macarthur Junior Sheppard, 36, of Marathon, Alberto Ravelo Jr., 34, of Hialeah, Allison Annmarie Thomas, 29, of Marathon, Kizmet Yatz Qualls, 51, of Marathon, James Dean Chatelain, 34, of Marathon with conspiring with each other, their co-defendants, and others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more grams of cocaine in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties.

The indictment further charges Michael David Corbosiero, 68, of Boca Raton, Michael Joseph Rodamer, 63, of Key Colony Beach, Robert Roy Taute Jr., 50, of Marathon, Bairon Aceituno Machado, 34, formerly of Marathon, Lazaro Jesus Hernandez, 35, formerly of Marathon, Anthony Velez Llanes, 38, of Little Torch Key, and Tyler Jameson Macmillan, 33, of Big Pine Key, with conspiring with each other, their co-defendants, and others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties. The indictment also specified various real estate properties, vessels, and vehicles are subject to criminal forfeiture.

Strama, a convicted felon, also faces additional federal charges for cocaine distribution, using a child under the age of 14 to engage in drug trafficking and avoid detection and apprehension, and possessing a firearm and ammunition after a previous felony conviction.

Stiglitz, Ramirez, Gonzalez, Nunez, Ross, Sheppard, and Chatelain face additional federal charges for cocaine distribution. Ross, Williams, Sheppard, and Scott also face additional federal charges for cocaine distribution within 1,000 feet of playgrounds in Florida City and Marathon.

On Sept. 5, the defendants began being taken into custody at various locations and began making their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida.

If convicted, Strama, Stiglitz, Ramirez, Delgado, Gonzalez, Nunez, Ruiz, Lugo, Ross, and Williams face up to life imprisonment. Scott and Sheppard face up to 80 years in prison. Arvelo, Hunt, Yeider, Olivo, Ravelo, Thomas, Qualls, and Chatelain face up to 40 years in prison. Corbosiero, Rodamer, Taute, Machado, Hernandez, Llanes, and MacMillian face up to 20 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.

FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case with assistance from Homestead Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, FBI Detroit Field Office, and U.S. Probation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. McLaughlin is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Maranda is handling asset forfeiture.

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