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Long Arm Of Law Reaches From Tampa To Pasco For Drug Bust

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

  Wiltrober Hernandez

TAMPA - Two men took part in a Dade City drug deal Monday that involved a kilogram of cocaine and nearly $20,000, police say.

Tampa police arrested Wiltrober Hernandez, 23, of Zephyrhills, and Francisco Hernandez Avellaneda, 32, of Okeechobee, about 6 p.m. Monday.

The men were arrested on U.S. 98 in Dade City.

According to arrest affidavits:

Law enforcement learned "thorough a reliable investigative source" that Hernandez was arranging for the sale of a kilogram of cocaine. The information came from Tampa.

Tampa police and deputies from Hillsborough and Pasco counties conducted surveillance and pulled over Hernandez while he was driving a 2002 Dodge Ram.

The kilogram of cocaine and a 9 mm pistol were in his vehicle.

Law enforcement also learned from information developed in Tampa that Avellaneda was arranging for the delivery of the kilogram of cocaine for Hernandez.

Avellaneda was stopped driving a 1995 Pontiac. Law enforcement found $19,000 in the vehicle.

"The defendant admitted to delivering one kilogram of cocaine to the co-defendant in exchange for $19,500," a police report states.

Hernandez, of 7029 Glory Road, was charged with armed trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. He also was arrested on warrants for on counts of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and one count each of racketeering, trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to commit racketeering and importation of a controlled substance

Avellaneda was charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

Both men remained in Orient Road Jail today. Their bail had not been set.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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