Two top members of Latin Kings arrested in Hillsborough County, sheriff says

WIMAUMA, Fla. - Expensive cars, jewelry and guns were all part of daily life for two high-ranking Latin King gang members recently arrested during a three-month narcotics operation in Hillsborough County. 

Sheriff Chad Chronister said detectives and DEA agents seized more than $800,000 in drugs, plus 15 firearms, cash and stolen property after they executed search warrants at five properties in Wimauma last Thursday.

Chronister said the locations were stash houses where at least 19 other dealers pushed huge amounts of heroin, meth, cocaine and fentanyl – to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars per month.

The two men at the top of the local operation, according to the sheriff, were the state’s head drug supplier and a man said to be among the top five Latin Kings in Florida: Omar Bravo and Fidencio Robles.

During a press conference Monday, Chronister was joined by State Attorney General Ashley Moody, who pointed to border security as a reason the Latin Kings are able to operate in the Sunshine State.

"We know the lack of any security at the southern border has only acted as steroids to these gangs that have infiltrated our state," said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. 

Investigators also found the Latin Kings' operational manual which shows organization leaders and locations, the sheriff said. He added that there are only a handful of known copies of the manual in existence.

The sheriff said guns seized in the operation are being tested for possible connections to other crimes in Hillsborough County. 

"As a community we can sleep easier knowing these criminals are behind bars, these gang members relentlessly terrorized our community and sold drugs where our children live and play," the Sheriff said.