Sheriff's Office says raids today toppled West Volusia cocaine network

16 people arrested at locations in DeLand, Lake Helen, DeLeon

By Volusia County Sheriff's Office
SPECIAL TO THE BEACON

posted Nov 10, 2008 - 6:31:16pm

The Sheriff's Office said the work of dozens of local, state and federal agents toppled a large-scale drug trafficking organization today, Nov. 10.

Some 150 law-enforcement agents conducted a series of raids on a criminal network the Sheriff's Office said was responsible for distributing massive quantities of cocaine in West Volusia.

A total of 16 people were in custody as of 4 p.m. Monday, including 26-year-old Rosheen Cuthrell of DeLand, whom the Sheriff's Office called the head of the organization, along with several others accused of being the group’s main drug suppliers.

Agents have had the organization under investigation since last year, and seized more than 1,500 grams of cocaine before the raids Monday.

Agents have arrest warrants for nine more people.

Dubbed “Operation Melt Down,” the investigation was initiated in 2007 by the multi-agency Volusia Bureau of Investigation (VBI). When VBI learned several of its targets were also under federal investigation, they joined forces with the City-County Investigative Bureau in Seminole County and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Cocaine worth about $30,000 on the streets was seized during the investigation, which culminated Monday morning with raids at five locations in DeLand and DeLeon Springs, and a round-up of defendants.

Most face cocaine-trafficking charges and were jailed with bonds of up to $305,000.

Four targets of the investigation, including Cuthrell, were already in custody before today's raids. Cuthrell is incarcerated in South Florida on drug charges, and faces charges in Volusia County of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine over 400 grams, trafficking in cocaine over 28 grams and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

Another 12 defendants were arrested Monday, including three members of one West Volusia family — 55-year-old Rafael Meza Sr. and his two sons, 29-year-old Jose Meza and 21-year-old Rafael Meza Jr. Investigators accuse the trio of being Cuthrell’s main cocaine suppliers.

Agents also snared 35-year-old Gregorio Mendoza of DeLand Monday. The Sheriff's Office said he is one of the group’s upper-level suppliers.

Another accused upper-level supplier, 48-year-old Clemente Hernandez of DeLand, is being held in jail in Daytona Beach as a fugitive who’s wanted in Tennessee.

Another defendant, 23-year-old David Gutierrez of DeLeon Springs, was facing charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine until he was killed recently in a traffic crash near Homestead.

Other defendants taken into custody before Monday include 29-year-old Vernon Cheek of Palatka and a man known to agents only as Guerro.

Investigators say the group was responsible for distributing between 20 and 30 kilos of crack and powder cocaine a month through the West Volusia area.

Agents seized 16 firearms along with a small amount of cocaine and marijuana during Monday’s operation.

Search warrants were executed Monday at the following five locations:

DeLand

• 1420 E. Carolina Ave.

• 822 S. High St.

• 250 Palmetto Ave., Apt. C

• 700 E. Wisconsin Ave.

DeLeon Springs

• 5095 Penvan Ave.

•

Arrests also were made at the following locations:

• 1256 Helen Drive, DeLand

• 617 S. Montgomery Ave., DeLand

• 5359 N. U.S. Highway 17, DeLeon Springs

• 2212 Florida Drive, Apt. 4, Deltona

• 42229 Fonseca Lane, DeLand (Lake County)

• 611 Sidney Drive, Lake Helen

The 12 defendants arrested Monday, and their charges and bond amounts, are:

• Anna Berriozabal, 27, DeLand. Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine over 400 grams, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, $155,000 bond.

• Jose Angel Flores-Ruiz, 31, DeLand. Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine over 400 grams, $150,000 bond.

• Janice Kohler, 21, Lake Helen. Possession of marijuana under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, $2,000 bond.

• Gregorio Mendoza, 35, DeLand. Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine over 400 grams, $150,000 bond.

• Jose Meza, 29, DeLand. Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine over 400 grams, $250,000 bond.

• Rafael Meza Jr. 21, DeLeon Springs. Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine over 400 grams, trafficking in cocaine over 28 grams, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, $205,000 bond.

• Rafael Meza Sr., 55, DeLeon Springs. Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine over 400 grams, $250,000 bond.

• Travares Reed, 27, DeLand. Theft of a firearm, $1,500 bond.

• Otilio Toledo, 38, DeLand. Possession of marijuana under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia. (Arrested and booked in Lake County)

• Antiqua Watts, 21, DeLand. Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine over 400 grams, $150,000 bond.

• Shavon Watts, 28, DeLand. Possession of a controlled substance, $5,000 bond.

• Elli Williamson, 26, DeLand. Possession of marijuana (bond amount not available).

The Volusia Bureau of Investigation is a multi-agency task force that pools resources from nine local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in order to target 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, DeLand Police Department, Port Orange Police Department, New Smyrna Beach Police Department and the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

Reader Comments

The comments posted below are posted by readers, not by The Beacon staff. These comments express the views and opinions of the authors, and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster. The comments forum is governed by these rules. Please use the report abuse link if you find offensive comments.

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The DeLand-Deltona Beacon to read more stories by Volusia County Sheriff's Office, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!