05-13-2006, 01:50 PM
5 accused of trafficking crystal meth
REBECCA BLUE
Bradenton Herald Staff Writer
MANATEE - An undercover operation resulted in the arrest Tuesday of five men accused of trafficking crystal methamphetamine.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office led the operation, which led to the arrests Tuesday afternoon in the 4400 block of 30th Street West.
The men face charges of trafficking more than 14 grams of crystal meth, which is a colorless, odorless form of d-methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant that typically resembles small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white "rocks."
A sheriff's office report indicated that Sunday and Monday undercover officers placed a series of "controlled calls" to Bradenton resident Jeremy Silus Smith, 27, to order 12 ounces of crystal meth at a price of $1,500 an ounce, for a total of $18,000.
Smith, according to the report, promised that his supplier could deliver eight ounces of meth at the agreed price for a total of $12,000 on Tuesday.
Detectives were stationed at the 30th Street address Tuesday afternoon to arrest Smith and the alleged suppliers when they arrived.
Sheriff's officers arrested Smith, as well as:
• Lionel Guerra, of Wimauma, 19.
• Lazaro Mondragon, of Wimauma, 18.
• Ruben Santiago, of Wimauma, 18.
• Gabriel Alvarez, of Riverview, 18.
On Wednesday Guerra, Mondragon, Santiago and Alvarez were being held at the Manatee County jail on $100,000 bond each. Smith was being held on a $200,000 bond, according to the Manatee County jail booking department.
They are all scheduled to be arraigned June 6.
REBECCA BLUE
Bradenton Herald Staff Writer
MANATEE - An undercover operation resulted in the arrest Tuesday of five men accused of trafficking crystal methamphetamine.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office led the operation, which led to the arrests Tuesday afternoon in the 4400 block of 30th Street West.
The men face charges of trafficking more than 14 grams of crystal meth, which is a colorless, odorless form of d-methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant that typically resembles small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white "rocks."
A sheriff's office report indicated that Sunday and Monday undercover officers placed a series of "controlled calls" to Bradenton resident Jeremy Silus Smith, 27, to order 12 ounces of crystal meth at a price of $1,500 an ounce, for a total of $18,000.
Smith, according to the report, promised that his supplier could deliver eight ounces of meth at the agreed price for a total of $12,000 on Tuesday.
Detectives were stationed at the 30th Street address Tuesday afternoon to arrest Smith and the alleged suppliers when they arrived.
Sheriff's officers arrested Smith, as well as:
• Lionel Guerra, of Wimauma, 19.
• Lazaro Mondragon, of Wimauma, 18.
• Ruben Santiago, of Wimauma, 18.
• Gabriel Alvarez, of Riverview, 18.
On Wednesday Guerra, Mondragon, Santiago and Alvarez were being held at the Manatee County jail on $100,000 bond each. Smith was being held on a $200,000 bond, according to the Manatee County jail booking department.
They are all scheduled to be arraigned June 6.