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RICO sting brings down Orange County gang allegedly linked to fentanyl deaths, fake pills

By
Updated  August 7, 2024 12:41pm EDT
Orange County
FOX 35 Orlando

Orange County gang dismantled in joint RICO operation

State Attorney Andrew Bain, Assistant State Attorney and Narcotics Chief Anne Wedge-McMillen and Orange County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Carlos Torres held a joint press conference on Wednesday morning regarding an operation that led to the dismantling of a criminal gang in Orange County.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - An Orange County gang allegedly linked to three deaths through the selling of fentanyl disguised as prescription pills has been dismantled. 

"Operation Dirty 30s" – named after the fentanyl pills pressed to look like 30-milligram oxycodone pills – was brought to a conclusion last week after an Orange County grand jury handed down indictments for 11 defendants involved in a local street gang known as "Respect, Money Structure/Everybody Killer" or "RMS/EBK." State Attorney Andrew Bain announced this in a press conference Wednesday alongside Assistant State Attorney and Narcotics Chief Anne Wedge-McMillen and Orange County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chief Carlos Torres. 

"The grand jury returning a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) indictment is significant because RICO laws allow us to dismantle criminal organizations by targeting the individual crimes and the entire structure that supports and perpetuates them," Bain said. "We can hold those directly involved accountable, pursue harsher penalties through sentencing and disrupt the networks fueling these illegal activities that harm our community."

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All 11 defendants were are in custody as of Wednesday on felony charges ranging from death caused by the unlawful distribution of fentanyl and racketeering to illegal firearm sales and attempted burglary. Ten were already behind bars, and the final defendant was taken into custody Wednesday after an Orange County judge issued an arrest warrant. Most of the defendants are in their mid 20s or early 30s, with the youngest being 19 years old. 

A breakdown of all defendants and their charges can be found at the bottom of this page. 

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"RMS/EBK" was established about seven years ago. "Operation Dirty 30s," however, didn't begin until the fall of 2023, after Orange County deputies arrested a woman for trafficking over 28 grams of fentanyl, Torres said. Her arrest led to higher members of a drug organization, and when someone died last September after buying drugs through this group, an investigation was launched. 

It was during this investigation that the Orange County Sheriff's Office learned the Orlando Police Department was also looking into members of this organization, so they joined forces and "Operation Dirty 30s" was born. 

Throughout the operation, officials said they discovered that three fentanyl-related deaths were "directly" caused by the gang's illegal activity. The victims were identified as Carlos Pena, Noah Polanco and Samuel Fredrick. 

The families and loved ones of those who died as a result of the gang's illegal drug activity were present at Wednesday's press conference. 

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"Not a single person here knew that they were buying fentanyl and not a single person here had any desire to die," Wedge-McMillen said.

The narcotics chief added that the defendants sold fentanyl and guns – some of which were stolen and most of which were illegal – to undercover agents. 

"When these drug trafficking organizations sell deadly fentanyl disguised as oxycodone, they know it's likely going to create a death, an overdose. But they don't care," Torres said. 

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Other details, like how many guns, the amount of drugs and how much money was changing hands between gang members, were not immediately made available on Wednesday as officials cited the ongoing and active investigation. 

‘Operation Dirty 30s’ defendants, charges

Below is a breakdown of the defendants and their charges included in the indictment:

Elena Falzone

Elena Falzone (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Murder (Death Caused) by the Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl
  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Delivery of Controlled Substance Within 1,000 Feet of a School
  • Possession of Controlled Substance Within 1,000 Feet of an Assisted Living Facility
  • Own, Lease, or Rent Any Place, Structure, Trailer or Conveyance with Knowledge That It Will Be Used for the Sale of Controlled Substances
  • Delivery Fentanyl
  • Delivery Fentanyl
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Olivia Goen

Olivia Goen (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Racketeering
  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Delivery Fentanyl
  • Trafficking 4 Grams or More but Less Than 14 Grams of Fentanyl
  • Trafficking 4 Grams or More but Less Than 14 Grams of Fentanyl
  • Trafficking in 28 Grams or More Fentanyl
  • Own, Lease, or Rent Any Place, Structure, Trailer or Conveyance with Knowledge That It Will Be Used for the Sale of Controlled Substances
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Brenden Haven-Gault

Brenden Haven-Gault (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Racketeering
  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Own, Lease, or Rent Any Place, Structure, Trailer or Conveyance with Knowledge That It Will Be Used for the Sale of Controlled Substances
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Paul Jacas

Paul Jacas (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Racketeering
  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Delivery Fentanyl
  • Trafficking in 4 Grams or More of Dangerous Fentanyl or Fentanyl Analogues While Armed
  • Trafficking in 14 Grams or More but Less than 28 Grams of Fentanyl
  • Trafficking in 14 Grams or More of Dangerous Fentanyl or Fentanyl Analogues While Armed
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
  • Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Zaviar Kidd

Xaviar Kidd (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Trafficking in 14-28 Grams of Methamphetamine
  • Possession of Fentanyl
  • Own, Lease, or Rent Any Place, Structure, Trailer or Conveyance with Knowledge That It Will Be Used for the Sale of Controlled Substances
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Jeremiah Maldonado

Jeremiah Maldonado (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Murder (Death Caused) by the Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl
  • Racketeering
  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Rebecca Murray

Rebecca Murray (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Benjamin Rivard

Benjamin Rivard (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Murder (Death Caused) by the Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl
  • Racketeering
  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Trafficking in 28 Grams or More Fentanyl
  • Trafficking in 28 Grams or More Fentanyl
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Carlos Yandel Carrasquillo Rodriguez

Carlos Yandel Carrasquillo Rodriguez (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Trafficking in 14 Grams or More of Dangerous Fentanyl or Fentanyl Analogues While Armed
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Person Found to have Committed a Delinquent Act
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Eliamne Rodriguez

Eliamne Rodriguez (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Trafficking in 28 Grams or More Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

Christian Roux-Rey

Christian Roux-Rey (Photo: State Attorney's Office)

  • Racketeering
  • Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
  • Directing the Activities of a Gang
  • Trafficking in 14 Grams but Less Than 28 Grams of Fentanyl
  • Conspiracy to Traffic in 28 Grams or More of Fentanyl
  • Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate or Further the Commission of a Felony

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