POLK COUNTY Fla. – A multi-agency investigation into fentanyl trafficking led to the arrest of 64 individuals and the dismantling of a Lakeland-based drug organization.
The operation, which spanned over three years, culminated in a series of raids on June 20, 2024.
Three-Year Investigation
The investigation kicked off in January 2021 and involved collaboration between the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the Attorney General’s Office led by Ashley Moody.
The FDLE’s State Financial Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E) program provided crucial support. Established in 2023, the S.A.F.E program offers financial aid for approved investigative costs related to combating fentanyl trafficking.
Undercover Operations and Key Players
PCSO detectives and FDLE special agents conducted undercover purchases of fentanyl from the Rooske drug ring. The organization used two storefronts in Lakeland, Rooske Bait and Tackle Shop and Rooske Motorcycle Parts & Accessories, for drug trafficking and money laundering activities.
Hector Baez Torres, a 43-year-old resident of Lakeland, was identified as the ringleader. His wife, Pilar Rivera (41), and daughter, Jeimylee Baez Rivera (23), were also involved. Miguel Castro Rivera, a 24-year-old from Auburndale, served as Baez Torres’s right-hand man.
The investigation further revealed two suppliers who provided illegal drugs to the Rooske organization: Wilfredo Feliciano Velez (26) and Casimiro Bidot Del Valle (59) from Kissimmee. PCSO detectives apprehended Velez during a cocaine delivery to Baez Torres, while Del Valle was arrested at his residence by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Raids and Seizures
On June 20, 2024, a joint force of PCSO detectives and FDLE special agents executed search warrants at six locations:
- Rooske Motorcycle Parts & Accessories
- Rooske Bait and Tackle Shop
- The residence of Hector and Pilar Baez Torres
- The residence of Jeimylee Baez Rivera and Miguel Castro Rivera
- The residence of Luis and Wilma (unspecified relation to the case)
- The residence of Casimiro Bidot Del Valle (Osceola County)
The raids resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of illegal drugs, including:
- Fentanyl (742.14 grams)
- Cocaine (3,585.42 grams)
- Methamphetamine (13.08 grams)
- Oxycodone (57 grams)
- Marijuana (228.69 grams)
The estimated street value of the seized drugs is $475,348.60.
Law enforcement also seized various assets from the organization, including:
- Cash ($12,270)
- Vehicles ($154,000)
- Personal watercrafts ($15,000)
- Dirt bikes and off-road vehicles ($40,000)
- Merchandise from both Rooske storefronts ($90,000)
- Jewelry, electronics, firearms, and designer apparel ($67,500)
- Bank accounts ($40,000)
- Liens on the residence of Hector and Pilar Baez Torres ($200,000)
The total value of the seized assets is estimated at $604,770.00.
Total Impact
The combined value of the seized drugs and assets represents a total impact of $1,080,118.60 on the Rooske drug trafficking organization. This takedown disrupts a major source of illegal drugs in the Lakeland area.pen_sparktunesharemore_vert
“In essence, this fentanyl trafficking organization was the family business. The motorcycle shop and the bait shop were corrupt businesses that were used as a means for money laundering. Their customers weren’t involved; they had no idea what was going on. In fact, the owners tried to project a wholesome facade while conducting their criminal enterprise behind the scenes until it all came crashing down on them, thanks to the fantastic work by our detectives,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Florida leads the nation in fentanyl seizures and this case is yet another example of how Sheriff Judd and his deputies are leaders in helping us remove deadly drugs from our streets. Working with Polk County Deputies and FDLE, we were able to seize 742 grams of fentanyl in two counties. That is enough poison to kill 371,000 Floridians, and I have no doubt that this drug interdiction operation saved lives.”
Key Arrests in Lakeland Drug Trafficking Takedown
While many arrests involved buyers from the Rooske organization, these initial detentions provided valuable leads that ultimately led to dismantling the entire operation. Here’s a breakdown of the key players arrested:
Leadership:
- Hector Baez Torres (43, Lakeland): The ringleader, facing charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and illegal use of communication devices.
- Pilar Rivera (41, Lakeland, Hector’s wife): Charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering and illegal use of communication devices.
Family Involvement:
- Jeimylee Baez Rivera (23, Auburndale, Daughter of Hector and Pilar): Arrested on numerous charges including trafficking in cocaine and fentanyl, possession of oxycodone and marijuana, child neglect, and illegal use of communication devices.
Inner Circle:
- Miguel Castro Rivera (24, Auburndale, Jeimylee’s boyfriend): Faces a long list of charges including armed drug trafficking, racketeering, use of a firearm during a felony, child neglect, and various drug possession charges.
Associates:
- Luis Ramos Delgado (48, Lakeland, Wilma’s boyfriend): Charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and multiple counts of fentanyl trafficking.
- Wilma Fuentes Laureano (56, Lakeland, Luis’s girlfriend): Arrested for conspiracy to commit racketeering and fentanyl trafficking.
Supplier:
- Casimiro Bidot Del Valle (59, Kissimmee): A supplier to the organization, facing charges of fentanyl and cocaine trafficking, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and drug paraphernalia possession.
These arrests crippled the Rooske drug trafficking organization and highlight the interconnectedness of the operation.
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