VCSO Arrests 19 As Result Of Investigation Into Heroin Trafficking Ring

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Volusia County, FL - The Volusia County Sheriff's Office (VCSO) announced Tuesday that 19 people have been arrested as a result of a nearly year-long investigation into an alleged heroin distribution ring. The Volusia Bureau of Investigation, a task force that pools resources from 10 other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, spearheaded the operation, dubbed "Operation Heavyweight." VCSO says that the ringleader of the drug trafficking organization, Henry Bermudez; his Orlando supplier, Salvador Castillo; and several other alleged members of the heroin trafficking organization were arrested on Tuesday. The majority of those people arrested were from Deltona. "These peddlers of death are responsible for the overwhelming amount of heroin sold in Deltona," Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a Tuesday press conference. "Today wasn't a good day to be a heroin dealer in Volusia County." Search warrants for four homes were issued, and officials seized approximately $150,000 (a kilo and a half) worth of heroin, along with an undetermined amount of cash. VCSO says that some of the heroin was mixed with fentanyl, and the amount of heroin seized was enough for 15,000 doses. Deltona City Commissioner Anita Bradford also spoke at the press conference. "Get your drugs out of my town and go somewhere else," said Bradford. A total of 19 people were arrested during the operation, including one person who was arrested on an unrelated warrant. You can find a list of the people arrested below:
  • Henry Bermudez, 43, Deltona
  • Salvador Castillo, 41, Orlando
  • Luis Santiago Jr., 45, Deltona
  • Jose Medina-Nieves, 36, Deltona
  • Josuel Garcia, 38, DeBary
  • Mariano Perez, 71, Deltona
  • Jose Gomez, 39, Deltona
  • Raymond Morales, 59, Deltona
  • Richard Ortiz, 36, Daytona Beach
  • Luis Casellas, 58, Deltona
  • Katie “Scarlett” Allison, 19, Deltona
  • Taylor Schell, 19, DeLand
  • Fernando Izquierdo, 57, Deltona
  • Christopher Munoz, 25, Deltona
  • Carlos Vazquez Romero, 38, Deltona
  • Ryan Gazda, 29, Deltona
  • Charie Matos, 30, Deltona
  • Jessica Blackwell, 49, Deltona (was already in custody)
  • Tamera Pena Lopez, Deltona (arrested on an unrelated warrant)
Five others are being sought in the investigation on outstanding warrants, below:
  • Ryan Robles, 21, Deltona
  • Jessica Jerald, 49, DeLand
  • David Slabodnik, 54, Deltona
  • Christine Smith, 46, Deltona
  • Angel Garcia, 47, Deltona
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