Eight South Floridians Charged in Massive Meth, Coke Ring

MIAMI – Eight South Floridians, including a member of the Latin Kings gang, have been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as distribution of the substances, in a massive trafficking operation.

According to a 12-count indictment unsealed on April 18, Alain Romero, 33, of Hialeah Gardens, Florida, Mauricio Herrera, 40, of Hialeah, Florida, Anthony Lee Davis, 27, of Naples, Florida, David Martinez Ortega, 35, of Naples, Patricia Correa Ramirez, 28, of Miami, Andy Cabrera, 28, of Miami, and Yanker Perez-Diaz, 34, of Westland, Michigan, were part of a drug trafficking organization that trafficked methamphetamine and cocaine in Florida.

The indictment alleges that Martinez and Davis distributed the drugs from Naples to Miami, at the direction of Oscar David Cardona, 29, of Miami, another member of the Latin Kings gang. Cardona was arrested on Aug. 31, 2023, in Miami-Dade County for a state probation violation and is currently in state custody.

The arrests were coordinated between the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, and Eastern District of Michigan. Davis and Martinez were arrested in Naples, Perez-Diaz was arrested in Westland, and Herrera, Ortega, Cabrera, and Ramirez were arrested in Miami.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and other law enforcement officials announced the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, fines of up to $10,000,000, and a period of supervised release of up to life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Yara Dodin is prosecuting the case, which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The DEA Miami Field Division, HSI Miami, USMS Miami, USPIS Miami, MDPD, BSO, Homestead PD, Hollywood PD, Miami Police Department, CCSO, and FHP investigated the case with assistance from the DEA Detroit Field Division and other local police departments.

Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.