Drug Bust Aimed At Taking Fentanyl Off Pasco County Streets

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL -- In a joint operation involving the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, accused suppliers and dealers of the deadly mixture of heroin and fentanyl were indicted in federal court.

Pasco Sheriff's Cpt. Mike Jenkins made the announcement at a press conference Monday, saying the amount of drugs taken off Pasco County streets as a result of the arrests equals 22,500 doses.

The arrest were made in late September following a nine-month operation aimed at reducing opioid overdoses in Pasco County (see related story). Since the arrests, Jenkins said Pasco County has experienced a 30 percent decrease in opioid overdoses.

Detectives say Edwin Tyrone Hill, 47, of Newbury Drive in New Port Richey was the supplier while William Gaston, 31, of Taft Drive in Port Richey and Nelson "Slug" White, 27 of Devonshire Drive in Holiday were the distributors of the dangerous concoction.

In September, the DEA executed search warrants at two locations linked to Hill, resulting in seizures of drugs, cash and firearms.

That same day, agents also pulled over Nelson White and seized drugs, cash, firearms and ammunition.

In all, the DEA seized one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1.5 kilos of crack cocaine with a combined street value of $600.000.

They also seized $400,000 in cash and eight guns including three stolen handguns and a sub-machine gun.

Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza will prosecute the case.

If convicted, Hill faces 15 years up to life in federal prison. Gaston and White face 10 years to life. The indictment also requires Hill to forfeit the house he owns in Holiday. Property appraiser documents show he purchased a new home in Vista Lakes at Bailey's Bluff in May 2017 for $268,490.

Images via Pasco Sheriff

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