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5-Month Drug Probe Nets Dozens Of Arrests

News Channel 8 photo by ERIC HAUSMANN

Joe Blanco of the Tampa Police Department speaks to Sammie Hall, in handcuffs.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

Updated: 07/23/2008 07:25 pm

TAMPA - The economy is tough on drug dealers too, investigators learned as part of a sweeping investigation into two trafficking networks stretching from Texas and Georgia to Fort Myers and the Bay area.

A five-month investigation identified about 70 people in the trafficking groups and four distribution cells, officials said Wednesday. The multi-agency probe included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Tampa and Plant City police, and sheriff's offices in Hillsborough, Pasco and Lee counties.

The targets include former NFL and current Tampa Storm offensive lineman Kenyatta Jones, a day-care teacher and a man once charged with killing a star running back at Robinson High School and Vanderbilt University.

Tampa police began the investigation after receiving complaints from neighbors in two areas: North Boulevard Homes and around North 34th Street near Hillsborough Avenue.

As they identified key players and tapped phone conversations, they realized not only the scope of the networks but how the economic downturn has affected the way drugs are bought and sold, Tampa police narcotics Capt. Hugh Miller said.

"The corner markets are there, but they're changing business because of economics," he said.

For instance, dealers would venture to other areas to find customers, and individuals short of supply would cooperate with other suppliers, Miller said.

"The heads of organizations on either side of town were talking to each other. It's not even an uneasy truce; it's a matter of doing business," Miller said.

Still under investigation are suppliers in McAllen, Texas; Atlanta and Lee County, Miller said.

So far, the probe has confiscated about 16 kilograms of powder cocaine, 100 grams of crack cocaine, 25 pounds of hydro marijuana, 16 firearms, 23 vehicles and roughly $240,000, officials said.

The crackdown appears to have had some effect on the local drug trade because the wholesale cost of cocaine has risen from about $14,000 per kilogram to $26,000 per kilogram, Miller said.

In addition, "we intercepted telephone calls that said we will not bring drugs into Hillsborough County," Miller said.

Arrests began weeks ago, with a major roundup starting about 6 p.m. Tuesday and continuing throughout today. Forty-four were charged by late this afternoon.

Among those accused is Jones, 29, an offensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Storm and former player for the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins. Assistant State Attorney Darrell Dirks said Jones was making arrangements today to surrender on warrants for his arrest.

Those arrested face felony charges including racketeering and drug trafficking, which carry more severe potential sentences than, for example, felony delivery of cocaine, Dirks said.

"They were involved in multiple acts," Dirks said. "It's different than a one-rock buy."

The sheriff's offices and officials from the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area provided resources such as personnel for surveillance and money for transactions.

The Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office approved wiretaps on approximately 25 cell and hard-line phones, Dirks said. He estimated that a majority of the roughly 40,000 hours investigators spent on the probe over five months were logged on the wiretaps.

Police dubbed the drug networks "The 34th Street Initiative" and "West Side Story." Suppliers on the 34th Street side were based in Tampa and Gibsonton and distributed drugs to colleagues in Tampa, Brandon, Wimauma, Seffner and Temple Terrace, police said.

The "West Side Story" supply came from Mexico by way of Texas, where the drugs were funneled either to Fort Myers or Georgia to be broken up and transported to Tampa and Dade City, officials said.

"It's like floor planning on a car dealership. It's an ongoing credit situation," Dirks said.

Others accused of being part of the networks include husband and wife Francisco Pecina, 34, and Maria Ramones, 35, of Gibsonton, arrested July 12. Ramones is listed in jail records as a teacher at It's Kids Time in Riverview. Both are held at Falkenburg Road Jail on $250,000 bail each.

Rodney Roman Jr., 31, was arrested July 10 and is being held without bail at Orient Road Jail. In 2006, a first-degree murder charge was dropped against Roman regarding the 2004 slaying of Kwane Doster, a junior running back at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

Sgt. Pete Brevi, who has worked in the North 34th Street area for more than 20 years, said he has often seen the same people arrested multiple times on drug charges.

He hoped the arrests would provide some relief to residents.

"They don't have the resources to leave, or they don't want to leave," he said.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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