MIAMI – More than two dozen people, mainly from the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County, have been arrested by the FBI after authorities accused them of trafficking cocaine, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.
They come after a series of raids on Thursday following a federal grand jury indictment in August, charging the 27 suspects with various crimes.
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Those facing charges include Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority employees, commercial charter boat operators, and a former city of Marathon employee, a news release states.
Among those facing the most serious charges include a South Florida powerboat racing team owner.
JS Racing S-7 owner and convicted felon John Robert Strama Jr. is facing counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms of cocaine, using a child under the age of 14 to engage in drug trafficking and avoid detection and apprehension and possessing a firearm and ammunition after a previous felony conviction.
Strama, 42, of Marathon, could face life in federal prison.
Others who could face a life sentence are Daniel Delgado, 38, of Miami Springs; Orlando Rene Gonzalez, 29, of Hialeah; Pedro Luis Lugo Jr., 36, of Marathon; Alfred Michael Nunez, 34, of Marathon; Daniel Fernando Ramirez, 43, of Key West; Elvis Lazaro Ruiz, 31, of Marathon; Nyran Antonio Ross, 32, of Marathon; John Stiglitz, 39, of Marathon; and Tyrell Lamar Williams, 36, of Marathon.
They are also accused of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties.
Kenyatta Scott Jr., 32, of Key West, and Macarthur Junior Sheppard, 36, of Marathon, could face up to 80 years in prison. Authorities said they, along with Ross and Williams, distributed cocaine within 1,000 feet of playgrounds in Florida City and Marathon.
Others charged in the case, facing maximum sentences of 20 to 40 years, are:
- Bairon Aceituno Machado, 34, formerly of Marathon
- Louis Charles Arvelo, 38, of Boca Raton
- James Dean Chatelain, 34, of Marathon
- Michael David Corbosiero, 68, of Boca Raton
- Lazaro Jesus Hernandez, 35, formerly of Marathon
- Andrew Hamill Hunt, 36, of Marathon
- Tyler Jameson Macmillan, 33, of Big Pine Key
- Jose Enrique Olivo Sanchez, 34, of Marathon
- Kizmet Yatz Qualls, 51, of Marathon
- Alberto Ravelo Jr., 34, of Hialeah
- Michael Joseph Rodamer, 63, of Key Colony Beach
- Allison Annmarie Thomas, 29, of Marathon
- Robert Roy Taute Jr., 50, of Marathon
- Kevin Andrew Yeider, 46, of Marathon
- Anthony Velez Llanes, 38, of Little Torch Key
Authorities said the suspects had been trafficking drugs since as early as 2020.
The indictment also specifies assets subject to forfeiture, including three properties in the Keys, boats and personal watercraft, including a 39-foot speedboat, and a Ford truck.
Authorities said the suspects began appearing in various South Florida federal courtrooms on Thursday.
The FBI’s Miami office investigated the case, according to the news release, with help from FBI agents in Detroit, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services and Miami-Dade and Homestead police.
Read the indictment: