24 Arrested During Drug Trafficking Bust: Pinellas County Sheriff

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — A lengthy narcotics investigation involving a drug trafficking organization in Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay area led to 24 arrests Wednesday, authorities said.

Detectives launched the investigation, dubbed “Operation Dirty Ink,” in January, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Since then, the drug trafficking ring acquired and distributed about 400 kilograms of cocaine, 50 grams of fentanyl and 20 pounds of methamphetamine throughout the area, the sheriff’s office said.

During Wednesday’s arrests, detectives also seized 12 kilograms of cocaine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, $237,000 in cash and multiple guns.

“There's about a million people that live in Pinellas County, and those three kilos yesterday could have killed every man, woman and child in Pinellas County - and a time in a half,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.

The following people face charges in the sting:

• Aleem Cole, 46, St. Petersburg: two counts of conspiracy to traffick in cocaine, conspiracy to traffick in methamphetamine, operating a drug house, felon in possession of ammunition, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of MDMA, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, armed trafficking in cocaine, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Jacob Land, 46, St. Petersburg: 18 counts of sale of cocaine, 19 counts of possession of cocaine, conspiracy to traffick methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, two counts of conspiracy to traffick cocaine, sale of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl, conspiracy to sell fentanyl, conspiracy to sell MDMA, conspiracy to sell Oxycodone, conspiracy to sell marijuana, two counts of trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in MDMA, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Timeco Ruth, 43, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to traffick in methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffick in cocaine, unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Desmond Hargrove, 40, St. Petersburg: six counts of trafficking fentanyl, two counts of possession of fentanyl, two counts of sale of fentanyl, fleeing and eluding
• Rashonda Mitchell, 33, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to sell marijuana, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, possession of marijuana
• Viviana Norona Galindo, 27, Miami: conspiracy to traffick in fentanyl, conspiracy to traffick in cocaine
• Devontae Jenkins, 27, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to traffick in methamphetamine
• Jose Ramirez, 38, Tampa: conspiracy to traffick in fentanyl, conspiracy to traffick in cocaine
• Darijan Mizic, 30, St. Petersburg: unlawful use of a two-way communication device, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of Oxycodone, possession of Buprenorphine, possession of Lorazepam and armed trafficking in cocaine
• Jay Petrucci, 65, St. Petersburg: unlawful use of a two-way communication device, trafficking in cocaine
• Telicia Wooten, 42, St. Petersburg: felon in possession of ammunition, felon in possession of a firearm, trafficking in methamphetamine, armed trafficking in cocaine, armed trafficking in fentanyl, conspiracy to traffick cocaine and two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communication device
• Michelle Morales, 47, Clearwater: unlawful use of a two-way communication device and possession of a controlled methamphetamine
• Rathy Saroeut, 42, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to sell MDMA and unlawful use of a two-way communication device
• Oswald Castillo, 52, Seminole: two counts of conspiracy to traffick cocaine, trafficking cocaine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device
• (removed)
• Clarence Williams, 45, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to sell Oxycodone and unlawful use of a two-way communication device
• Jewitt Steele, 45, Clearwater: conspiracy to sell cocaine, conspiracy to sell fentanyl and unlawful use of a two-way communication device
• Chrystal Morgan, 44, St. Petersburg: possession of MDMA, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, armed trafficking in cocaine, operating a drug house, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and conspiracy to traffick in cocaine (over 28 grams)
• Justin Richardson, 42, Tampa: conspiracy to traffick in cocaine and unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Kevin Patterson, 39, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to sell cocaine
• Tamika Coley, 50, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to traffick in cocaine
• Edwin Roque, 35, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to traffick in cocaine with intent to sell, conspiracy to traffick in fentanyl (over 28 grams) and conspiracy to traffick in cocaine (over 400 grams)
• Tavis L’Eon, 30, Largo, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and conspiracy to sell MDMA
• Jrcoba Tramel, 46, St. Petersburg: conspiracy to traffick in cocaine