MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade police arrested 11 people they say were involved in running an illegal nightclub and selling drugs out of a restaurant in the county’s Westchester neighborhood.
The department announced the arrests of six men and five women Wednesday.
Police said they were running the operation out of the Corvina House restaurant at 7844 Coral Way, which officers raided on Oct. 7.
Officers said Corvina House was disguised as a seafood restaurant, but illegally operated as a nightclub without a license.
“People were patted down before entering the establishment and then after they gave their entry fee, they would enter,” MDPD Sgt. Eduardo Parez said.
At least some of those involved worked at or for the restaurant, according to arrest reports. That includes business owner Dariel Morejon.
According to police, the business has been shut down for about a month.
Police said they were able to track down the suspects through tips that the business was operating an illegal nightclub.
According to arrest reports, undercover officers made several drug buys at the restaurant, which they said was also selling alcohol without a liquor license.
“The patron would then tell the waitress what they wanted as far as drugs or alcohol,” Parez said. “They would take the money from that person and go to the security guard. The security guard would then give them the drugs.”
They said illicit activity had been going on at the establishment for a little more than a year.
Nearby business owners took notice.
“There were always drunk people, which was concerning to my customers, who at times were scared to walk to their cars,” nearby business owner Adriana Velasquez said.
Investigators seized cash, several weapons, alcohol and drugs, including cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy), and police arrested the following suspects:
- Milagros Rivera, 24, of southwest Miami-Dade
- Jorge Trutie, 34, of Hialeah Gardens
- Manuela Ortiz, 20, of Miami Springs
- Yariel Larosamena, 35, of southwest Miami-Dade
- Rene Vera, 39, of Hialeah
- Angie Ortiz, 26, of Miami Springs
- Dariel Morejon, 37, of southwest Miami-Dade
- Jose Sibilaruiz, 26, of Hialeah
- Jendry Armero, 37, of southwest Miami-Dade
- Leydi Nunez, 23, of Hialeah
- Daniela Morejon, 26, of west Miami-Dade
Police took everyone arrested to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
They face charges ranging from possession of illegal narcotics to selling them.
Miami-Dade police conducted its investigation in conjunction with the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.