Immokalee cocaine trafficking operation leads to 13 arrests

NAPLES, Fla.- A yearlong investigation into illegal drug activity in Immokalee resulted in the arrests of 13 people Thursday, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said.

Detectives say the investigation uncovered a drug trafficking operation that received powder cocaine from Texas via Mexico. The cocaine was supplied to Immokalee, where it was distributed in Southwest Florida as crack and powder cocaine.

“Today numerous significant drug traffickers attached to multiple organizations were arrested,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. “These arrests will severely impact the ability of these individuals to conduct illicit business in Southwest Florida for quite some time.”

The suspects conspired to traffic approximately 11 ½ kilograms of cocaine with a wholesale value of approximately $369,350, detectives said.

“Today’s arrests have interrupted at least 1,000 street-level narcotic transactions which would have netted these organizations approximately $575,000,” Sheriff Rambosk added.

Arrests were made in Collier and Lee counties Thursday. During the investigation, cash and narcotics were seized at various locations.

A total of 14 warrants were obtained; 13 suspects have been arrested so far. The suspects are being held the Collier and Lee county jails on bonds ranging from $250,000 to $3.2 million.

“There are some people connected to the organization that we have yet to locate and the warrants for them will remain active until they are apprehended,” Sheriff Rambosk said.

During the investigation into these drug trafficking organizations, detectives seized or purchased over 2 kilograms of cocaine, 6 grams of heroin and quantities of Xanax and marijuana with a street value of $72,300. Approximately $180,000 in cash also was seized.

This investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected, the Sheriff said.

The 13 people arrested, their charges and bond amounts are:

• Lanette Austile, 34, held on $100,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to sell and possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver
• Victor Cossio, 23, held on $2,510,000 bond. Facing charges for trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and possession of a controlled substance
• Noe DeJesus, 33, held on $250,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
• Bernardo Fernandez, age unknown, held on $250,000 bound. Facing charges for conspiracy to traffic cocaine
• Fredrick Green, 37, held on $520,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and possession with intent to sell a controlled substance
• Fernando Guadarrama, 29, held on $1,250,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
• Michael Jackson III, 37, held on $2,790,000 bond. Facing charges for trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell
• Erik Martinez, 25, held on $3,250,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and trafficking cocaine
• Florentino Martinez-Jimenez, 43, held on $1,250,000 bond.Charges: Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine – 400 grams or more and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine – 28 grams or more
• Cordey Taylor, 37, held on $270,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and conspiracy to possession with intent to sell a controlled substance
• Cristobel Torres, 23, held on $250,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
• William Washington, 47, held on $300,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to sell
• Lee Wren, 67, held on $100,000 bond. Facing charges for conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to sell and possession of cocaine