February 1, 2007
For immediate release
Contacts: 
     Gary Davidson, PIO, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office  (386-736-5989)
     Susie Murphy, PIO, FDLE Orlando Regional Operations Center (407-540-3805)         

 VOLUSIA AGENTS DISMANTLE NARCOTICS DISTRIBUTION RING 

Law enforcement officers from throughout Volusia County capped off a far-reaching undercover investigation Thursday with a series of raids that dismantled a major cocaine and marijuana distribution ring. Dubbed “Operation Chain Gang,” the two-year investigation spearheaded by the multi-agency Volusia Bureau of Investigation (VBI) resulted in the seizure of 17 kilograms of cocaine, 316 pounds of marijuana and $1.2 million in cash. Prior to Thursday’s raids, seven people had been arrested around the state during the investigation. On Thursday, seven more defendants were taken into custody. Operating on the west side of Volusia County, the group is believed to be responsible for distributing more than 100 kilos of cocaine and thousands of pounds of marijuana a month.   

   
              To view video click on box above 

VBI investigators first learned of the drug ring in 2004 and have spent the last two years infiltrating the organization, buying drugs from the group and building a case against the members. The enforcement efforts led investigators to the group’s main local suppliers, 26-year-old Alejandro Valdovino of DeLand. Valdovino -- considered to be an upper-level supplier -- was among those arrested on Thursday, charged with trafficking in marijuana and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. On Thursday, agents armed with warrants simultaneously raided three homes in Orange City, DeLand and DeLeon Springs in a search for financial records detailing how the drug proceeds were laundered. The search warrants were executed at the following three locations: 

• 1710 Van Cleef Road, DeLand

•  730 W. Lansdowne Ave., Orange City

• 134 W. Spring Street, DeLeon Springs 

In addition to the search and arrest warrants, investigators also fanned out over the last couple of days to a half-dozen residences in DeLand, Deltona and DeLeon Springs seeking to make contacts at locations where drug activity was known to be taking place. In total, approximately 80 Volusia County agents took part in the operation. Tuesday night, investigators seized 278 pounds of marijuana from a residence on West Beresford Avenue in DeLand. Agents seized another 5 kilos of cocaine on Jan. 17 after stopping a vehicle that was a target of the investigation on S.R. 44 in DeLand. That seizure led to two arrests. The investigation also spun off into other areas of the state, leading agents to suspected drug operatives in Lake, Marion and Manatee counties as well. 

“This was an extremely successful operation,” said Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson. “A lot of investigative teamwork from all of our VBI partners went into putting this drug organization out of business. Today’s operation will prevent a lot of very harmful drugs from making their way into our community.” 

Investigators believe the drugs were being imported from Mexico, smuggled across the Texas border and then transported by couriers to Florida. Once the drugs reached local distributors in West Volusia, they were packaged and sold, both in Volusia County as well as surrounding counties in the Central Florida area. Of the seven arrested before Thursday, three of those arrests took place in Volusia County. The others were arrested in Tampa and Bradenton. The three defendants previously arrested in Volusia County during the investigation are as follows: 

• James Gordon, 23, 61 Brownstone Lane, Palm Coast. Arrested on Oct. 11, 2006 for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after he was stopped on S.R. 40 with 12 pounds of marijuana in his car.

• Jose Angel Penaloza-Alvear, 23, Stuart. Arrested on Jan. 17, 2007 for trafficking in cocaine and driving without a valid license after he was stopped on S.R. 44 with 5 kilograms of cocaine.

• Saul Valencia-Vazquez, 22, Springfield, Oregon. Arrested on Jan. 17, 2007 for trafficking in cocaine after he was stopped on S.R. 44 with 5 kilograms of cocaine. 

While the operation was still ongoing, as of noon today, agents had seized drugs and cash at several location and arrested Valdovino along with another six defendants. At least four others with open warrants are still being sought. The additional defendants are as follows: 

• Alejandro Valdovino, 26, 1710 Van Cleef Road, DeLand. Trafficking in marijuana, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

• Manuel Ramos, 25, 1710 Van Cleef Road, DeLand. Possession of cocaine and three open warrants out of Texas.

• John Doe, 1710 Van Cleef Road, DeLand. Trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in marijuana, sale and delivery of marijuana, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

•  Matthew T. Allen, 26, 5 Inverray Court, Ormond Beach. Trafficking in marijuana, sale and delivery of marijuana, conspiracy to traffic in marijuana.

•  Christopher Lewis, 31, 730 W. Lansdowne Ave., Orange City. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, cultivation of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

•  Noe Noriega, 22, 134 W. Spring Street, DeLeon Springs. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

• Danny Pierce, 18, 711 W. May Street, DeLand. Possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. 

“Drug trafficking endangers families and communities. We must continue the fight against this lifestyle of crime,” said Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, whose Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the defendants. 

The Volusia Bureau of Investigation is a multi-agency task force that pools resources from seven local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in order to targets mid- and upper-level narcotics traffickers as well as racketeering and organized crime. Participating agencies include the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Attorney’s General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, Daytona Beach Police Department, Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety, Port Orange Police Department, New Smyrna Beach Police Department and the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Update: 4:47 p.m.
In addition to those listed in above, three additional defendants were taken into custody today as part of “Operation Chain Gang.” The three additional defendants and their charges are as follows: 

• Carrie O’Connor, 23, 730 W. Lansdowne Ave., Orange City. Trafficking in cocaine.

• Karla Flores, 26, 139 N. Boston Ave., DeLand. Trafficking in cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

• Oscar Olascoaga, 23, 139 N. Boston Ave., DeLand. Trafficking in cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.