WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Police in West Palm Beach announced Thursday they have dismantled a "major narcotics trafficking organization" in the city.
During a 24-month operation called "Operation Old School," West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo said eight high-level arrests were made in the case.
WATCH BELOW: Police announce 'dismantling' of drug trafficking organization
Araujo said the operation began in June 2023, but the investigation "accelerated" in 2024 after a record increase in fentanyl overdoses.
"Detectives identified this organization as the primary source of fentanyl and meth trafficked between West Palm Beach, Belle Glade and the surrounding region," Araujo said.
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On Monday, the police chief said multiple agencies executed 13 simultaneous search warrants, leading to the "disruption of this entrenched criminal network."
Araujo said eight organizational leaders have been charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and 56 additional felonies. In addition, 25 "street-level dealers" of illegal narcotics were arrested and face 53 additional felonies and other offenses.
Among the items seized during the investigation were the following:
- $179,000 in cash
- 9 firearms
- Multiple vehicles were impounded
- 1.5 pound of methamphetamine
- 14.5 grams of Xanax
- 154 grams of Oxycodone
- 18 grams of black tar heroin
- 250 grams of PCP
- 3 pounds of cocaine
- 6.6 pounds of marijuana
- 7.3 pounds of fentanyl
West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James called the arrests a "proud day" for the city.
"A major narcotics trafficking network operating in our city and across Palm Beach County has been taken down," James said. "Our city will not tolerate criminal networks that bring drugs, violence and fear into our neighborhoods."
Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox called the arrests a "turning point."
"For far too long, an entire neighborhood has lived under the shadow of a drug trafficking ring that has been pumping illegal drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and others into this community. That is, until now," Cox said. "Today, residents, families, business owners begin to get their neighborhood back. Today, we make it clear that no neighborhood in this county will be left to fend for itself."
The state attorney said the operation was part of a new initiative her office started this year called Focused Operations to Reduce Criminal Enterprises (FORCE).
"Through this initiative, the State Attorney's Office is collaborating with our law enforcement partners around the county to protect our neighborhoods from criminal enterprises by identifying, targeting and dismantling them one by one," Cox said.
She said the eight high-level suspects face decades in prison.
"We hope this serves as a message to the community and to anyone who seeks to operate a drug enterprise in Palm Beach County that we will find you, we will investigate you and we will prosecute you," said Cox.
The police chief thanked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency for their help in the investigation.
John Vecchio, a Special Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, said operations like "Operation Old School" are funded by the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) grant.
Vecchio said Gov. Ron DeSantis has allocated $15 million additionally for SAFE funding in his budget for next year.
"Since the grant program has been implemented, more than 540 pounds of fentanyl, 566 pounds of cocaine, 370 pounds of methamphetamines, over 830 firearms and more than $5.5 million have been seized and over 22,400 arrests have been made throughout the state," Vecchio said.
The community can report suspicious activity by visiting the FDLE website or by calling 1-855-FLA-SAFE.
Suspect arrested in case were as follows:
Lawrence Lee Logan, Jr., 60
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Racketeering (RICO)
- Two counts of conspiracy to sell cocaine
Darnel Durand Manuel, 54
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Conspiracy to traffic cocaine
- Racketeering (RICO)
- Sale of cocaine
- Trafficking in cocaine, 28–200 grams
- Two counts of conspiracy to commit the sale of cocaine
Gregory Lynn Monroe, 67
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Felon in possession of a firearm
- Possession of marijuana with intent to sell
- Racketeering (RICO)
- Sale of cocaine
- Trafficking in cocaine, 28–200 grams
- Trafficking in fentanyl, 14–28 grams
- Two counts of trafficking in fentanyl, 28 grams or more
- Trafficking in fentanyl, 4–14 grams
- Trafficking in heroin, 14–28 grams
- Trafficking in heroin, 4–14 grams
- Three counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, 200 grams or more
- Two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, 28–200 grams
Arthur Lee Monroe, Jr., 38
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Two counts of conspiracy to commit the sale of cocaine
- Racketeering (RICO)
- Sale of cocaine
- Trafficking in fentanyl, 14–28 grams
- Trafficking in heroin, 14–28 grams
- Trafficking in methamphetamine, 200 grams or more
Kelby Germaine Parson, 46
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Conspiracy to commit the sale of cocaine
- Conspiracy to commit trafficking in cocaine
- Conspiracy to commit trafficking in cocaine, 4–28 grams
- Racketeering (RICO)
- Trafficking in cocaine, 28–200 grams
Hubert Alonzo Payne, 61
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Two counts of conspiracy to commit sale of cocaine
- Racketeering (RICO)
- Trafficking in cocaine, 28–200 grams
SUSPECT AT LARGE
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Conspiracy to possess marijuana over 20 grams
- Conspiracy to sell cocaine
- Conspiracy to sell fentanyl
- Racketeering (RICO)
Harold Lee Stepherson, III, 45
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Conspiracy to commit sale of cocaine
- Conspiracy to commit trafficking
- Racketeering (RICO)
Tarus David Woodson, 49
- Conspiracy to commit RICO
- Felon in possession of a firearm
- Possession of marijuana with intent to sell
- Racketeering (RICO)
- Four counts of sale of fentanyl
- Trafficking in cocaine, 28–200 grams
- Six counts of trafficking in fentanyl, 4–14 grams
- Trafficking in fentanyl, 14–28 grams
- Trafficking in fentanyl, 28 grams or more
- Trafficking in heroin, 14–28 grams
LOWER-LEVEL ASSOCIATES & CHARGES
James Anderson
- Four counts of sale of cocaine
Eddie Brown, 45
- Obstruction of justice
- Possession of cocaine
Donald Burgess, 53
- Possession of cocaine with intent to sell
Anton Bussey, 45
- Possession of marijuana with intent to sell
Mike Ezekisa, 49
- Trafficking in methamphetamine
Vera Fox, 75
- Three counts of sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school
Kimberly Haliburton, 42
- Sale of cocaine
Robert Harris, 30
- Possession of cocaine with intent to sell
- Possession of fentanyl with intent to sell
Rasheeyda Herndon, 34
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Possession of Xanax without a prescription
- Sale of oxycodone
Charles Linton, 52
- Sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school
Walter McCray, 40
- Sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school
Clyde McDowell, 67
- Possession of cocaine with intent to sell
Robert Lee McFadden, 61
- Possession of Cocaine
Jesse Lee Moore, 41
- Sale of cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a convenience store
Rene Ramos
- Sale of cocaine
Ruby Russell, 64
- Sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school
Travis Russell, 50
- Sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school
Gregory Steward, 64
- Sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school
Dellony Thelemaque, 31
- Possession of cocaine
- Possession of fentanyl
- Possession of oxycodone without a prescription
Alphonso Woodson, 43
- Possession of cocaine
