Following a 6-month-long undercover investigation, Polk County Sheriff’s Office undercover Narcotics detectives made 60 arrests throughout Polk County and obtained eight (8) arrest warrants related to the sale and/or possession of illegal narcotics. The drug sales transactions all took place on three different social media and mobile dating apps: Grindr, Scruff, and Taimi. Grindr was the app with more drug sales than the other apps mentioned. The investigation began in July 2021 when PCSO received a Heartland Crime Stoppers tip indicating that people were openly selling drugs on the well-known dating app Grindr. PCSO detectives created undercover profiles within the app, and found it relatively easy to strike up conversations with those who were selling methamphetamine, cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD, Fentanyl, and marijuana in Polk County. It was clear during the conversations and ensuing undercover drug buys that the suspects’ primary purposes for being on the dating app were to sell drugs – not to find a date. “We’ve known for some time that suspects will use the Internet and social media to prey upon children online, or to engage in prostitution, but this is something we are seeing more and more of in Polk County – suspects who are using dating apps to sell illegal narcotics. Suspects are getting more creative, but so are our detectives. We’re working with these mobile app companies to raise awareness, and asking for their cooperation during our investigations. The good news is, we found that some who were on the dating app were reporting illegal drug sales when it became apparent to them, and the mobile app companies were banning some suspects attempting to sell drugs. When we find drug dealers, we put them in jail.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff Detectives filed 159 total felony and 72 total misdemeanor charges against the suspects during the investigation. Altogether, the suspects have 908 previous charges, including 453 prior felonies and 455 prior misdemeanors. Eleven (11) of the suspects told detectives they receive government assistance. Detectives will continue to monitor social media and dating apps for illegal drug transactions. We encourage the public to send us specific tip information about online drug sellers through Heartland Crime Stoppers at www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.
Based on the online drug sales, detectives obtained 52 arrests warrants for those who actually sold illegal narcotics. During the investigation they arrested 16 other suspects related to illegal narcotics. There are still eight suspects with warrants who are at-large. Detectives also served three search warrants at the following addresses: · 152 Abundant Life Drive, Auburndale· 1550 Robin Street, Auburndale· 2461 Avenue C SW, Winter Haven During the investigation:
· 14 firearms seized (2 were reported as stolen)· Approximately 280 grams of methamphetamine purchased (street value: approximately $14,000)· Approximately 3 grams of cocaine purchased · Approximately 113 grams (130 pills) of Ecstasy · Approximately 1.5 grams of Fentanyl/heroin · Approximately 1 gram of LSD· Approximately 28 grams of psychedelic mushrooms· Approximately 645 grams of marijuana Those arrested are as follows (in alphabetical order by first name): Abraham Hope, DOB 06/25/1994 of Davenport· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Adam Cooper*, DOB 03/30/1977 of Lakeland· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F3)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Allen Tyson*, DOB 03/21/64 of Bartow· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Angela Miller-Jordan, DOB 04/30/1966 of Auburndale· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Anthony Ballard, DOB 03/08/1975 of Auburndale· Armed trafficking in meth (Capital Felony)· Sale of meth (F3)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Possession of firearm by convicted felon (F2)· Grand theft of a firearm (F3)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of marijuana over 20 grams (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Camilo Jaramillo, DOB 12/01/1994 of Haines City· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Chloe Vandendriessche, DOB 02/13/1995 of Auburndale· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· Possession of weapon/ammo by convicted felon (F2)· Violation of injunction for protection (M1) Christina Earp, DOB 04/09/1985 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Christopher R. Baker, DOB 05/24/1987 of Lakeland· Sale of meth (F2)
- Possession of meth WITS (F2)
· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· Battery domestic violence (3 counts) Daniel Zahony, DOB 11/12/1985 of Lakeland· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of prescription drug without prescription (M2)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· Conveyance burglary (F2)· Petit theft (M2) Danyell Coggins, DOB 01/14/1975 of Winter Haven· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) David Caines*, DOB 12/04/1975 of Mulberry· Trafficking in meth (F1)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of structure or vehicle for drug sales (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of marijuana (M1)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Dawanda Gunter, DOB 08/02/1997 of Winter Haven· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Donald King, DOB 08/22/1982 of Lakeland· Possession and delivery of LSD WITS (F3)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3) Donald Taft, DOB 06/30/70 of Lakeland· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Doug Billings, DOB 01/25/1968 of Auburndale· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· Resisting arrest (M1) Frederick Bollard, DOB 09/11/1984 of Bartow· Sale of meth (F2)
- Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)
Gator Kleizo, DOB 01/22/1966 of Auburndale· Trafficking in meth (F1)· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Jack Bohannon*, DOB 04/16/1953 of Lakeland· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Jacob Cogswell, DOB 09/12/1987 of Bartow· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) James Deese, DOB 10/06/1955 of Auburndale· Trafficking in meth (F1)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Jaime Acevedo, DOB 11/09/1986 of Lakeland· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Jarvis Tibado, DOB 10/11/1982 of Auburndale· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· Giving false ID to LEO (M1) Jessalyn Humbertson*, DOB 8/24/99 of Winter Haven· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*she told detectives she receives government assistance Jim Luna, DOB 03/14/1962 of Lakeland· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Jireh Brooks, DOB 04/13/1996 of Lakeland · Sale of meth (F2)· Conspiracy to sell meth (F3)
- Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)
John Davis, DOB 07/12/1981 of Winter Haven· Trafficking in MDMA (F1)· Possession of heroin (F3)· Possession of cocaine (F3)· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of marijuana over 20 grams (F3)· Possession paraphernalia (M1) John Panzarella*, DOB 08/30/58 of Winter Haven· Delivery of marijuana (F3)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Jonus Banks, DOB 12/28/1980 of Lakeland· Sale of cocaine (F2)· Possession of cocaine WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Keone Fox, DOB 11/24/1986 of Lakeland· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Maegan McCarthy, DOB 07/14/1984 of Winter Haven· Trafficking in MDMA (F1)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Mar’dasia Brooks, DOB 05/23/1998 of Winter Haven· Possession of marijuana WITS (F3)· Possession of marijuana over 20 grams (F3)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Mark Cox*, DOB 01/14/1981 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Mark Scott, DOB 09/15/1963 of Lakeland· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Mary Heffler, DOB 05/17/1972 of Auburndale· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Michael Blankenship*, DOB 04/08/1956 of Lakeland· Possession of marijuana (M1)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*an affidavit was filed with these charges Michael Decker, DOB 08/13/1966 of Auburndale· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· Resisting arrest (M1) Michael Sonja, DOB 08/06/1975 of Bartow· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Minter Hall*, DOB 07/12/1955 of Bartow· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Nicholas Sferrvzza, DOB 06/07/83 of Auburndale· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Possession of meth (F3)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Noel Heyne, DOB 10/13/1972 of Lakeland (in custody)· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Phillip Carter, DOB 09/24/1965 of Winter Haven · Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Reynaldo Lopez, DOB 06/16/2000 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Richard Sturges, DOB 06/07/55 of Lakeland· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of marijuana (M1)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Robert Reedy III*, DOB 09/17/68 of Winter Haven· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Rodney Bacon, DOB 01/06/80 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Rodney Davis*, DOB 05/03/1972 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth with intent to sell (WITS) (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Ronald Stowe, DOB 04/09/1958 of Auburndale· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· VOP (F3) Scott Ledington, DOB 12/06/1966 of Auburndale· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Stacey Shepherd, DOB 11/29/1966 of Auburndale· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Thomas Bohuslaw*, DOB 05/30/1965 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)*he told detectives he receives government assistance Timothy Machado, DOB 08/10/1972 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Ty’Bias Giles, DOB 08/12/1999 of Lakeland· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· Carrying concealed firearm (F3)· Armed robbery (Capital Felony)· Aggravated battery with deadly weapon (F2) Tyler Oliver, DOB 04/10/1998 of Winter Haven· Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Wandy Noel, DOB 10/22/1991 of Winter Haven· Driving while license suspended (knowingly) (M2) William Anglin, DOB 08/10/1987 of Bartow· Delivery of marijuana (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3) William Waddell, DOB 02/07/77 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Detectives obtained arrest warrants for these eight (8) suspects: Adam Trembley, DOB 08/14/1982 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2) · Sale of marijuana (F3)· Possession of marijuana WITS (F3)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Angelo Lopez, DOB 10/28/1986 of Lake Wales· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Christopher Wright, DOB 04/16/1989 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Donovan Brandt, DOB 03/18/1983 of Lake Wales· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Jesse Velez-Pagan, DOB 10/03/1990 of Dundee· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) John Rials, DOB 12/05/1978 of Winter Haven· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Matthew Gamwell, DOB 07/07/1982 of Lake Wales· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Use of two-way communication device to commit felony (F3)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Willy Dunn, DOB 11/26/1994 of Lake Wales· Sale of meth (F2)· Possession of meth WITS (F2)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) During the investigation, these three (3) suspects were also arrested/charged: Joshua Allen, DOB 09/13/1980 of Auburndale· Armed trafficking in meth (Capital Felony)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1) Henry Sanchez, DOB 10/19/1994 of Orlando· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of prescription drug without prescription (M1)· Resisting arrest (M1)· Battery on LEO· Giving false info to LEO Robert Tillis, DOB 03/09/1973 of Mulberry· Possession of meth (F3)· Possession of prescription drug without prescription (M1)· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)
