ORLANDO, FL – Sixteen individuals are facing significant time behind bars following the culmination of “Operation Titan Fall,” a federal investigation that exposed a large-scale cocaine and fentanyl distribution network operating in Central Florida. U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton handed down sentences ranging from a year and a half to a staggering 40 years, reflecting the severity of the crimes and the volume of drugs involved.
The investigation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from a veritable army of federal, state, and local agencies, revealed a sophisticated operation moving at least 110 kilograms of cocaine and multiple kilograms of fentanyl through the mail, intercepted during traffic stops, and seized from clandestine locations. The bust underscores the relentless flow of deadly narcotics into the Sunshine State, and the lengths criminals will go to profit from addiction.
Among those sentenced, Alexander Acosta-Zapata received the longest term – 16 years – after pleading guilty to trafficking 5 kilograms of cocaine and 400 grams of fentanyl on December 13, 2022, and being sentenced on April 10, 2023. Adal Antonio Navas-Feliciano followed closely with a 15-year sentence for 400 grams of fentanyl (pleaded 1/18/23, sentenced 4/10/23). James Mirabal also received a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty on December 27, 2022, and being sentenced on March 20, 2023, for his role in distributing 5 kilograms of cocaine. Jonathan Andres Marte-Rodriguez was sentenced to 10 years, 1 month for 5 kilograms of cocaine (pleaded 2/8/23, sentenced 5/8/23). Frank Cadiz received 10 years, 1 month for 5 kilograms of cocaine (pleaded 12/14/22, sentenced 3/20/23).
The operation wasn’t just about drugs. The investigation into Carlos Alberto Roman uncovered a frightening arsenal at his residence. A search warrant executed on August 9, 2022, revealed 19 firearms, six silencers, three flash-bang grenades, and thousands of rounds of ammunition, indicating a willingness to use extreme violence to protect the operation. Roman himself received a 40-year sentence on March 14, 2023, for cocaine trafficking and possession of a firearm with a silencer during a drug offense (pleaded 12/6/22). Other sentences included: Juan Felipe Sanchez, 4 years, 3 months (40 grams fentanyl, pleaded 2/7/22, sentenced 4/24/23); Nimesh Rashmikant Patel, 4 years, 6 months (500 grams cocaine, pleaded 2/9/23, sentenced 5/1/23); Joseph Juan Torres-Torres, 5 years (500 grams cocaine, pleaded 9/7/22, sentenced 12/21/22); Gabriel Isaac Irizarry-Aponte, 2 years (500 grams cocaine, pleaded 2/10/23, sentenced 5/1/23); Jacob Nelson, 7 years (500 grams cocaine, pleaded 1/25/23, sentenced 4/17/23); James Richard Howell, 4 years, 9 months (cocaine, fentanyl, pleaded 12/5/22, sentenced 3/14/23); Joely Manuel Burgos, 4 years, 3 months (40 grams fentanyl, pleaded 12/28/22, sentenced 3/13/23); Kenneth Angel Vera, 2 years, 3 months (cocaine, pleaded 12/6/22, sentenced 3/14/23); Jonathan Beharry, 9 years (5 kilograms cocaine, pleaded 11/29/22, sentenced 2/13/23); and Vilnarie Figueroa-Matos, 1 year, 6 months (5 kilograms cocaine, pleaded 1/30/23, sentenced 4/17/23).
Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill, built a strong case leveraging evidence seized during traffic stops and meticulously executed search warrants. The DEA partnered with a broad coalition of law enforcement agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and numerous local police and sheriff’s departments across Central Florida. The sheer number of agencies involved points to the widespread impact of this drug network.
“Operation Titan Fall” is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDTF) investigation, highlighting the federal government’s commitment to dismantling the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten communities. While these convictions represent a significant blow to this particular network, the ongoing opioid crisis and the relentless demand for illegal drugs ensure that law enforcement will remain locked in a constant battle against those who seek to profit from misery. The investigation remains open as authorities continue to probe potential connections and identify additional players involved in the distribution network.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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