The world of illicit drug trade is a complex and ever-evolving landscape where criminal organizations employ sophisticated tactics to evade law enforcement and expand their reach.
One such intricate case unfolded across multiple states, showcasing the determination of federal authorities to dismantle a sprawling drug trafficking conspiracy that spanned from California to Arizona and Central Florida.
In a landmark ruling, nine individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their respective roles in this multi-kilogram cocaine and methamphetamine distribution operation.
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This two-year-long, multi-agency investigation uncovered the intricate web of the drug trafficking organization (DTO), which utilized commercial trucks to ship narcotics from Mexico across the United States to Central Florida.
Federal agents and task force officers meticulously tracked the movement of drugs, gathering vital intelligence on the DTO's operations and key players. The investigation revealed the extensive reach of this criminal network, with its tentacles stretching from the Southwest to the East Coast.
The nine individuals charged in this case were found guilty either through jury trials or plea agreements, each playing a distinct role in the broader conspiracy.
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The sentenced individuals include:
- Luis Miguel Hernandez (36, Phoenix, AZ): Convicted of distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine, sentenced to 9 years and 1 month in prison.
- Saul Sandoval (41, Phoenix, AZ): Pleaded guilty to distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine, sentenced to 10 years in prison.
- Zara Mascarella (20, Palm Coast, FL): Pleaded guilty to distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine and 500 grams of cocaine, sentenced to 5 years in prison.
- Camarie Shavers (24, Bunnell, FL): Pleaded guilty to distributing 500 grams of cocaine, sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
- Alfred L. Shavers (50, Bunnell, FL): Convicted of cocaine distribution and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, sentenced to 16 years in prison.
- Alfred L. Shavers Jr. (26, Bunnell, FL): Pleaded guilty to distributing 50 grams of methamphetamine, sentenced to 5 years in prison.
- Jimmie Lee Bizzell (53, Bunnell, FL): Pleaded guilty to distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine, sentenced to 6 years in prison.
- Wendell Ferreira (42, Berlin, CT): Pleaded guilty to distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine, sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison.
- Tyrone Jones (56, Palm Coast, FL): Convicted of distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine (two counts) and 50 grams of methamphetamine, sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The investigation revealed the intricate modus operandi employed by the DTO. Commercial truck drivers, Bizzell and Ferreira, were responsible for transporting the drugs from California and Arizona to Central Florida, where the drugs were then distributed by the local drug traffickers in the region.
Hernandez and Sandoval, based in Phoenix and Los Angeles, respectively, were identified as the sources of the methamphetamine and cocaine, having brokered deals with co-conspirators in Mexico to smuggle the drugs across the border.
On October 31, 2022, law enforcement executed search warrants at six locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Daytona Beach, Florida, resulting in the seizure of 44.54 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.72 kilograms of cocaine, nine guns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. This operation was a significant blow to the DTO's operations in the region.
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Sandoval and Hernandez were apprehended on April 25, 2023, in Phoenix and Los Angeles, respectively. Sandoval's residence in Phoenix yielded a substantial cache of illegal items, including 1,114 grams of fentanyl pills, 18 firearms, 4 firearm suppressors, and over $5,000 in cash. Hernandez was arrested while in the midst of a new drug trafficking deal for approximately 36 kilograms of methamphetamine.
After a thorough investigation and judicial proceedings, the nine individuals were sentenced to federal prison for their respective roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy. The sentences ranged from 2 years and 6 months to 16 years, reflecting the severity of the crimes and the commitment of the authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, which utilizes a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Daytona Beach Resident Agency, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the DeLand Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Sartoian and Matthew Del Mastro.
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