Video: Fentanyl Distribution Organization Dismantled, Xylazine Mixture Seized

Date Added: August 21, 2023 3:03 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

FENTANYL DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATION DISMANTLED, XYLAZINE MIXTURE SEIZED

Another drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing kilograms of fentanyl in Volusia County has been dismantled following a long-term investigation by the Volusia Bureau of Investigation and task force partners.

Javoris Edwards (DOB 3/6/1987) of South Daytona, and a source of supply, Leron Willis (DOB 6/28/1987) of Deltona, are each in custody with bond amounts exceeding $2 million.

The investigation began in April 2022 and involved months of surveillance, search warrants, intelligence gathering and wiretaps. During a search warrant executed in October at Edwards’ apartment at 1614 Jones St., South Daytona, agents seized more than 200 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer also known as “tranq” and “zombie drug,” which the Drug Enforcement Administration reports has become increasingly present in mixtures of heroin, cocaine and other narcotics.

Xylazine has been found to cause wounds at the injection site that destroy flesh and can cause amputation of limbs. Because the drug is a sedative, not an opioid, users who overdose might not be revived by traditional reversal treatments like Narcan.

“The opioid epidemic has cost too many lives already, but the introduction of fentanyl and xylazine into the supply means any dose could be your last,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “Whatever drug you’re using right now, you’re gambling with your life because you really don’t know what you’re taking.”

Detectives found a large portion of the distribution activity was happening out of Edwards’ home while he was on house arrest for domestic battery.

Edwards has been in custody since the October raid at his apartment. During the investigation, agents have made 11 arrests on charges including armed trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and grand theft of a firearm. They collected a total of 822g fentanyl (including the fentanyl/xylazine mixture), 328g cocaine, 100g crack cocaine, 21g methamphetamine, a small amount of MDMA, $17,280 cash, and 3 firearms, one of them reported stolen.

Those charged last week are:

Leron Lenard Willis (DOB 6/28/1987), Deltona

Sale of Fentanyl

Trafficking in Fentanyl (28g or more), 4 Counts

Trafficking in Methamphetamine (28g or more)

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $2,605,000

Javoris Edwards (DOB 3/6/1987), South Daytona

Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine (14-28g)

Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl (28g or more)

Trafficking in Fentanyl (28g or more)

Trafficking in Fentanyl (4-14g) (4 counts)

Sale of Fentanyl

Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine (28-200g) (2 counts)

Possession of a Structure with Knowledge that the Structure will be used for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance

Possession of a Conveyance with Knowledge that the Conveyance will be used for the Manufacture of a Controlled Substance

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $2,255,000

Jammie Fitzgerald Evans Jr. (DOB 2/9/1991), Daytona Beach

Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl (28g or more)

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

*At the time of his arrest for the active warrant, Evans was additionally charged with:

Trafficking in Fentanyl (28g or more)

Trafficking in Fentanyl (4-14g)

Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Total Bond: $565,500

Meghan Marie Perrone (DOB 10/21/1980), Daytona Beach

Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine (14-28g)

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $105,000

Karl Franklin Stepp (DOB 2/6/1959), New Smyrna Beach

Solicitation to Deliver Cocaine

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $30,000

Michele Ann Caruso (DOB 9/25/1967), Holly Hill

Solicitation to Deliver Cocaine

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $30,000

Lisa Jane Bartha (DOB 10/27/1962), Port Orange

Solicitation to Deliver Cocaine

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $30,000

Those with active arrest warrants as of this writing are:

Patrick Bernard Mungen (DOB 6/23/1976), Daytona Beach

Trafficking in Cocaine (28-200g)

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $105,000

Willie James Truitt (DOB 7/17/1967), Daytona Beach

Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine (28-200g)

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $105,000

Gino Raffael DeFalco (DOB 11/28/1991), Port Orange

Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl (4-14g)

Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamine (14-28g)

Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

Total Bond: $205,000

Additional arrests are forthcoming as detectives continue their investigation into this drug trafficking organization.

This investigation, known as “Operation Empire,” was a joint effort led by the Volusia Bureau of Investigation (VBI) and East Volusia Narcotics Task Force along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the State Attorney’s Office.

The Volusia Bureau of Investigation is a Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative that investigates drug trafficking organizations. VBI is comprised of members from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, DeLand Police Department, Edgewater Police Department and the Ormond Beach Police Department as well as HSI and the FBI.

The East Volusia Narcotics Task Force is a street level drug task force comprised of members from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, Edgewater Police Department, Holly Hill Police Department, New Smyrna Beach Police Department, Ormond Beach Police Department, Port Orange Police Department, and South Daytona Police Department.