Pasco County drug trafficking bust leads to federal charges for 13 suspects: Officials
HUDSON, Fla. - Federal drug trafficking charges have been filed against 13 people following a recent takedown in Pasco County, according to law enforcement officials.
According to United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service worked together to bust a major drug trafficking organization that ran in Pinellas and Pasco counties.
"This conspiracy was a family affair. Of the 13 members of the conspiracy who have been federally indicted, seven of them are related," stated Handberg.
Handberg says Daniel Carrillo, 35, and his conspirators, who include his significant other, Betsy Trinidad, 32, his mother and her mother, not only sold cocaine and methamphetamine in Pinellas and Pasco counties, but also supplied drug dealers.
Another relative was responsible for mailing cocaine from Puerto Rico to be distributed by the organization, according to Handberg.
READ: 2 kids removed from feces covered Inverness home, 3 arrested for animal cruelty: CCSO
He went on to state that while Carrillo and Trinidad live in Hernando County, nine members of the organization were from Pasco County, one lives in Pinellas County and one is from Puerto Rico.
Evidence image courtesy of law enforcement officials.
"For over a year, this organization trafficked in significant quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, dangerous drugs that were distributed in Pinellas and Pasco Counties, but not any longer," Handberg said.
READ: Suspect in missing woman’s death, homeless camp murder captured: Grady Judd
According to Handberg, law enforcement officials seized a gram and a half of cocaine and more than a kilogram of methamphetamine during a Jan. 13 bust. He said they also seized 10 guns.
Evidence image courtesy of law enforcement officials.
"This group preyed and profited on the addicted in Pinellas and Pasco Counties for at least 10 years," stated David Walker of the FBI.
READ: ‘Its like a nightmare’: Neighbors unsettled after 60 foot sinkhole in front of Polk County home
According to Handberg, 12 of the suspects have been arrested and one, who has not yet been publicly identified, is still on the run.
The investigation is ongoing.
Evidence image provided by law enforcement officials.
Suspects Charged:
Daniel Carrillo, 35, -Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine and three counts of distribution of cocaine.
Yoned Onil Santana Vazquez, 18,- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine.
Georgelys Natal Vazquez, 27, - Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine.
Lucy Carrillo Gonzalez, 60, - Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine
Jacqueline Navarro, 53,- Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine, five counts of distribution of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Betsy Luz Trinidad, 32, - Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine and four counts of distribution of cocaine.
Kevin Valdez, 33,- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Victor Hernandez Jr., 24, - Conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
John Patrick Barrett, 57, - Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Jennifer Hanna, 51,- Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Johan Eloy Del Valle Carrillo, 41, - Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and attempted distribution of cocaine.
Johan Eloy Del Valle Carrillo, 29, - Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Rolando Alvarez Canete, 40, Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine.