Pasco Sheriff’s Office, FBI arrest five in meth trafficking case

TAMPA, Fla. — Seven Pasco County men have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly trafficking methamphetamine in the area, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced.

Ismael Alvarez, 36, Lonnie Griffin, 63, Juan Medrano, 42, Raymond Downing, 51, Lionel Florez, 27, Lorenzo Herrera, 34, and Richard Sanchez, 31, all of Dade City, have been charged with distributing methamphetamine.

If convicted, each faces a minimum of five years and up to life in federal prison.

According to the indictments and court statements, the defendants reportedly conducted multiple drug transactions with an undercover confidential source over several months. Law enforcement is said to have recovered more than 800 grams of pure methamphetamine between April and November 2024.

On March 11, the FBI, in conjunction with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and Zephyrhills Police Department, arrested five of the defendants during an early morning operation.

“These law enforcement actions demonstrate the FBI’s persistence in combating violent crime in our communities,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor.

“We will continue to strengthen our federal, state, and local partnerships to meet our mission and to ensure the safety and security of the American people.”

An indictment is merely a formal charge. Mr Alvarez, Mr Griffin, Mr Medrano, Mr Downing, Mr Florez, Mr Herrera, and Mr Sanchez are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.