PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A large-scale drug investigation dubbed "Operation Dirty Ink" led to 24 arrests, as well as the seizure of $237,000 in cash, 12 kilograms of cocaine (about 26.5 pounds) and 3 kilograms of fentanyl (6.5 pounds), the Pinellas County sheriff said during a news conference Wednesday.
Gualtieri said the people arrested were responsible for trafficking a combined 400 kilograms of cocaine, 50 kilograms of fentanyl and about 20 pounds of methamphetamine in St. Petersburg and throughout the Tampa Bay area.
They had been in operation "at least January 2023" but had likely been collaborating for longer.
The network consisted of 30 people, mainly located in St. Petersburg. Gualtieri claimed they had gotten the drugs from two sources in Mexico and used couriers to deliver the drugs and money back and forth. The drugs would then be distributed to dealers and sold throughout the area.
The sheriff's office began its investigation into the drug network in January after hearing reports that St. Pete resident Jacob Land was selling cocaine out of his business: the Star Status Ink tattoo parlor on Gandy Boulevard, according to the sheriff. Upon further investigation, deputies reportedly determined one of the people Land was selling to was Desmond Hargrove, a man who owned one of the businesses next to Land's at the same plaza.
Undercover detectives bought several ounces of fentanyl from Hargrove, as well as 1.5 kilos of cocaine from Land, Gualtieri said. Through a legally obtained court order, the PCSO tapped Land and Hargrove's phones for two months where they learned the identity of one of Land's sources for the drug supply: Justin Richardson, the sheriff continued.
From there, the investigation gradually uncovered a vast network of suppliers, couriers, traffickers and dealers. Richardson and Jose Ramirez were said to be obtaining cocaine and fentanyl from sources in Mexico, courier Telicia Wooten transported the drugs to Aleem Coley and other traffickers. She was paid in cash, and the $237,000 in drug money was seized at her house.
Deputies officially began to make arrests early Wednesday morning. They picked up Hargrove at a traffic stop near his business. According to Gualtieri, Hargrove fled the traffic stop but ultimately hit a parked car while driving at around 100 mph.
Detectives also seized several guns and ammunition. When they went to Coley's house, they reportedly found cooking equipment used to concentrate cocaine into crack.
The PCSO determined that many of the people they had arrested had extensive criminal backgrounds. According to Gualtieri, Justin Richardson had formed his drug dealing connections while in federal prison.
"The disturbing part is, drug traffickers get arrested, go to jail, do more time, it's a revolving door in and out of the system. While they're in prison, not only don't they reform, they develop new sources of supply," said Gualtieri, pointing to Richardson's history of being arrested on drug charges, being released early and then being arrested again on similar charges.
"So much for getting the message, so much for rehabilitation. Hopefully, 25 years will keep him off the street," Gualtieri said.