Orlando, FL – A kingpin in a fentanyl and cocaine ring is facing a potential life sentence after pleading guilty to multiple federal charges. Carlos Alberto Roman, 56, of Orlando, admitted to supplying narcotics to a network of dealers and illegally stockpiling an arsenal of weapons, according to court documents unsealed this week.
Roman’s downfall came as part of “Operation Titan Fall,” a large-scale investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDTF). Federal agents raided Roman’s home on August 9, 2022, uncovering a shocking cache: 19 firearms, six silencers, three flash-bang grenades, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. He was initially charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine alongside James Richard Howell, 37, of Silver Springs; Kenneth Angel Vera, 31, of Orlando; and Joely Manuel Burgos, 39, of Orlando.
The charges quickly escalated. A superseding indictment in August 31, 2022, added six more counts against Roman, including possession of a firearm equipped with a silencer in furtherance of drug trafficking, unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and possession of illegal weaponry like short-barreled rifles and explosive grenades. The plea agreement reveals Roman regularly communicated with Howell, Burgos, and Vera, supplying them with the drugs they then resold on the streets.
Howell and Vera have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy on December 5th and 6th, respectively. Burgos is slated to go to trial on January 17, 2023. Roman now faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 30 years in federal prison, with the potential for life behind bars. The investigation, spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), involved a massive collaborative effort from numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Assisting the DEA in the investigation were U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Florida Highway Patrol, and a dozen local police departments and sheriff’s offices across Central Florida. The sheer scale of the operation underscores the widespread impact of this drug trafficking ring.
Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill is prosecuting the case. Operation Titan Fall exemplifies the OCEDTF’s mission to dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States. More information on the OCEDTF program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illicit drug trafficking and the devastating consequences for those involved.”
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Press Release
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