Multi-agency investigation put an end to a structured, statewide, criminal enterprise.
Sheriff Ken Mascara announced today that a multi-agency investigation has resulted in nine arrests and put an end to a structured, statewide, criminal enterprise.
“Information gathered from our annual Summer Task Force led detectives to where we are today,” said Sheriff Ken J. Mascara.
Multi-agency investigation put an end to a structured, statewide, criminal enterprise.
According to the Sheriff, as detectives began to investigate this information, it was revealed that an elaborate criminal enterprise with a network stretching from Tampa to the Florida Keys was based out of St. Lucie County.
“Our investigation revealed activity that included car and boat theft, dealing in stolen property, extortion, insurance fraud, trafficking, sale, delivery, possession and distribution of controlled substances to include cocaine, marijuana and other scheduled narcotics,” Mascara said. “It was at this point that we requested the assistance of our state and local partners to build an effective and solid case against these individuals and bring this activity to an end.”
Multi-agency investigation put an end to a structured, statewide, criminal enterprise.
According to the Sheriff, assistance was provided from Homeland Security Investigations/Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Martin County Sheriff’s Office and the Miami-Dade Police Department. The Office of Statewide Prosecution coordinated the legal aspects of the investigation since the criminal enterprise was actively involved in multiple judicial circuits.
“Through the formation of our multi-agency task force, and under the guidance of the Office of Statewide Prosecution, a court-ordered wiretap was implemented to gain as much information as possible about the scope and depth of the criminal enterprise,” Mascara said. “Also, during this time, detectives monitored specific phone lines for high-ranking members of the organization.”
According to the Sheriff, the wiretap was authorized under Florida Statute 934 and required a court order by a judge.
According to the Sheriff, the criminal enterprise was actively involved in stealing boats and car and boat motors, removing the VIN and then profiting on the sale to further the drug trafficking activites. Other illegal activities loans to individuals that were then extorted by threats of violence and helping to defraud insurance companies through false claims.
“From September through April of 2016, surveillance was conducted on high-ranking members of the criminal enterprise and sufficient evidence was gathered to arrest Ivan Blanco-Avila, 40, Rolando Garcia Ruiz, 67, Rolando Garcia Garmendia, 44, Henry Blanco-Avila, 45 and Richard Henry Byrd, 46,” Mascara said. “Additional arrests were also made on associates and family members that include Melissa Garcia, 41, Newman Marquez, 23, Silvia De Garcia, 60, and Harold Toro, 47.”
“Due to the strong and collaborative partnerships between our agency and the others included in this investigation, a significant criminal enterprise has been stopped, several unsolved grand theft cases have been solved and a pipeline for drugs and other criminal activities has been terminated,” Mascara said.
“This criminal enterprise put Floridians statewide in danger, by not only stealing and channeling drugs throughout our state, but also, extorting and intimidating innocent Floridians to advance their scheme,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Thanks to local, state and federal law enforcement partnership, this enterprise has been shutdown and these individuals are incarcerated.”
