Julian Miller, 31, of Palm Coast, accused of running a heroin and fentanyl operation mostly in Volusia counties, was among nine people arrested in the two counties Friday in a joint operation between the two counties’ sheriff’s departments and and the Daytona Beach Police Department Special Investigations Unit. The investigation had been ongoing since Last November.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office claims the drug-trafficking organization is responsible for distributing 2 to 3 kilograms of heroin per month in east Volusia. Some of the heroin sold by the organization contained the deadly opioid fentanyl.
On Friday, authorities fanned out to arrest Miller, considered the ringleader, along with his associates and the organization’s street-level members. The group called itself “The Money Team.” Search warrants were served at eight locations in Daytona Beach, Holly Hill and Palm Coast.
Shykeem Thomas, 30, was arrested in Palm Coast, where two search warrants were served. Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies seized 2 ounces of heroin at 15 Brian Lane and 6.6 ounces of heroin and 3.6 ounces of fentanyl from 11 Burton Place. Paraphernalia and packaging materials used to distribute illegal drugs were also recovered at the Burton Place address. Thomas waived extradition from Flagler and asked to be booked into the Volusia County Jail.
Thomas served 15 months in state prison between 2006 and 2007 on a cocaine manufacturing and sale conviction. Miller served in state prison from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2010 to 2011 on convictions for aggravated assault and cocaine possession.
In a joint appearance at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly and Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood spoke of the suspects as individuals “destroying families” and “destroying lives,” in Chitwood’s words. “We will not sit back and watch this epidemic continue while poison peddlers kill people,” Staly said.
It’s believed The Money Team was spending $40,000 to $100,000 at a time, roughly on a monthly basis, to purchase heroin for distribution on the street in Volusia County. The investigation also revealed members were distributing trafficking quantities of cocaine and pharmaceuticals.
Earlier this year, in January, undercover Daytona Beach detectives started making controlled purchases of heroin from the head of the organization, 31-year-old Julian Parker Miller. In January, the first purchase was made for $60 in heroin that tested positive for the presence of fentanyl.
After a judge authorized wiretaps on some of The Money Team’s phones, detectives were able to monitor repeated calls and texts setting up drug deals on the street. And VBI members conducting surveillance on the locations discussed on the wire were able to watch those deals take place.
Several of the organization’s members have been arrested and convicted of past crimes ranging from possession and sales of narcotics, to aggravated assault with a firearm, to possession of dangerous drug equipment, to fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement.
The 10 Money Team members in custody as of Friday are Miller, Mark Johnson Jr., 31, of Holly Hill and Daytona Beach, Mark Johnson Sr., 57, of Holly Hill and Daytona Beach, Thomas, 30, of Daytona Beach and Palm Coast, William Dennison, 28, of Daytona Beach, Justin Allen, 29, of Ormond Beach, Stacia Schriever, 38, of Port Orange, Andrew Deperalta, 24, of Ormond Beach, Brian Conti, 53, of Port Orange, and Brandon Barker, 25, identified during the investigation as a member of the team but already incarcerated at the Volusia County Branch Jail.
So far in 2017, approximately 100 deaths in Volusia County have been attributed to opioids. That compares to 101 in all of 2016, 111 in 2015 and 76 in 2014. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating three open homicide cases in which the evidence suggests delivery and consumption of an opioid caused the user’s death.
“Using fentanyl just one time can kill–and that is why it is vital that we continue to aggressively investigate drug trafficking and remove these substances from our streets,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose Office of Statewide Prosecution assisted in the operation. “I firmly believe this investigation saved lives and I am grateful for each law enforcement officer who worked to seize these deadly drugs before they could be sold in our state.”
Mikey Eyes says
Thomas waived extradition from Flagler and asked to be booked into the Volusia County Jail. Sounds like he is familiar with the accommodations! How about this? Permanent residency!
Sw says
Bye bye have a nice trip See ya Couldn’t happen to a nicer group of fellas. Nice job Volusia/Flagler LEO keep it up
Komodo Dragon says
I have always loved the way Chitwood operates and we now have Staly who is on a mission to put an end to these drug dealers. What a dynamic team and they are on the right page. The end of this rampant drug dealing is coming to an end. The rest of the Florida sheriffs need to take notes as this war does have an end.
The destruction these drug dealers have done as suppliers are unspeakable. They live their lives not giving a crap about another human life. I would rather that all arrested would have resisted and have gotten killed like pigs in a slaughter house. Sheriff Staly and Chitwood, I know I’m not alone when I say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Komodo Dragon says
Pam Bondi, many thanks to you as well. For those responsible for deaths, lets seek Capital Murder charges and pursue the death penalty. An eye for an eye is well suited here and will give other drug dealers more than enough to think about. These two sheriffs are bringing in the scum and must be tried by a well selected jury that will have no problem with execution. This war shall end and families will rejoice.
Dave says
What if heroin was legal? Would there still be a fentaynl in drug or would people be more aware of what they were taking? Would the jails be less full of addicts and the money saved from them bring arrested over n over could go towards treatment and education. Please just end this war on drugs and stop giving criminals a chance to fourish in the shadows
ASF says
Why do we keep seeing the B section come up in connection with criminal activities. Are there a lot of rental properties there?
South Florida says
Good job Flagler, Sheriff Staly and sheriff of Volusia county.
Anonymous says
Sooooo…where was these group buying what they were selling????? Until the big boys are caught this isn’t going to change much. What are the details on any kind of raid, who owns the homes, what property and money was seized? If it isn’t determined where the drugs are coming from, it does very little to lock up these little guys. Something should have been done long ago before drugs have become an epidemic, including to those who produce the drugs.
Veteran says
If cast as a zombie in The Walking Dead, he would not need any make up.
Anonymous says
The guy on the left looks like he came off the TV program The Walking Dead. Seriously!
Anonymous 1 says
DONT YA LOVE PALM COAST!!!
Hmmm says
Real life Tyrone from the Chappelle Show!!
Dude looks like something out the Michael Jackson Thriller video!!
Chris A Pickett says
Two of our finer citizens………..
PCnomore says
P section, R section, B section, W section, and L section have all gone to crap. The stories always seem to come out of one of them whether it’s for illegal drugs, assaults, gang activity….something needs to be done. I feel so sorry for the good people living there that spent their hard earned money purchasing a home there only to have rental trash move in next door. This is what happens when there’s no rules on who can rent their homes out.
David S. says
Hopefully the dirt bags will be in jail for a long time but the way the system works around here they will be out in 6mo and continue this crap again. I heard that you can go anywhere and they will give it too you free just to see how you like it so you will return to buy more…
RigidPrinciples says
When will people realize these are not drug problems, but they are drug war problems? Does anyone feel any level of government any where across our country has ever made a dent in a war against any drug? It would have to suck to constantly be on the losing side of war. When you look at the war on marijuana, it is easy to see the DEA, the police, the drug dogs, etc., all have miserably lost the war on marijuana. Imagine being a cop working so hard to keep the evil marijuana off the street, then all of a sudden, the government admits defeat, and now the police can’t do anything to the folks who buy their get out of jail free cards. Everyone knows medical marijuana is a short stepping stone away from complete legalization. If People want it, there is nothing the government can do about it. With alcohol, We the People simply used our 2nd amendment to encourage the 21st amendment. With marijuana, folks simply eventually came to just ignore the laws, especially the federal legislation, which is great for teaching the children to not respect unconstitutional federal legislation. That is the best part about federal marijuana prohibition. It comes down to whether or not People want it. There is an herb called Kratom that many People especially ex-vets use for PTSD as well as chronic pain. It’s in the coffee family, so it has some of the same side effects. The DEA tried and failed miserably to outlaw it in September 2016. But the People told the DEA to suck it, which they promptly did. Too many People want kratom. Therefore, there is nothing the government can do about it. If folks want heroin and fentanyl, so be it. If you are worried about crime then enforce the laws against crimes that hurt people. Encourage people to be armed, and to shoot and kill people who intend to cause them bodily harm or death. Worried about societal costs? Make a sales tax, and buy some land. Dump the bodies of those dead drug users in a pile, and light it on fire. If the drug problem is really that bad, the fire should be constantly burning. Send the kids there on school field trips. Show them where they go when they smoke crack snort meth or shoot heroin/fentanyl. Then that’s it. Let them know the consequences of their actions. Period. But just because I go to work and work my arse off, doesn’t mean that the government should be able to hold a gun to my head to steal my money to find, incarcerate, and take care of people for the rest of their lives who are into suicide. Let the people that want to die, die. Why would you stop them? Worried about your own children? Ahh…there in lies the rub. Folks don’t want to raise their children anymore, and blame the actions of their children on the lack of some action from some government. If your kid smokes crack or fentanyl, you are way past the point of any government being able to help the kid you don’t care about in the first place but will act like you do for the money because in our society the more kids you have the more money you can get. We are so communist that even the Republicans don’t realize how communist Trump is. I get it. If I paid into a system for 50 years I expect to get a return back in the form of something. But it’s still communism, and if we don’t push it in the other direction then it keeps going in this direction. Communism. Total and complete control of every aspect of our lives. Wish folks wanted to be free, but how can they if they don’t know they’re not free? Sure, it’s better here than North Korea, but communism is still evil no matter if it is a little or a lot. And forced charity isn’t charitable at all. It’s tyranny. Just as this drug war is.
Jenn says
Fantastic job. Bye bye Money Team
Wow Judge Much says
PCnomore it doesn’t matter what section you are or where you are crime is rampant. Home owners commit crimes also. How ignorant of you to believe that it has to do with renters
Dee K Griggs says
First I would like to thank the officers involved in the operation and arrest made in this Heroin and Fental Roundup, Good job Done.
As to AFS comment on Rental Properties : That has nothing to do with drug use, or who sells, wake up. Florida is filled with retired people , many who prefer to rent than own at this stage of life, many young people are not established enough to buy. Renting in Palm Coast is very expensive often at least double or more of what a mortgage is, so back off renters. I do carry a mortgage, as it was a less expensive way to go.
Perhaps , Palm Coast and other communities need to concentrate a little on some activities that younger people could get involved in and have something that could entertain them, just hanging out has never ended up good. Drugs destroy lives of users and families that care for them
George says
@PCnomore
Tell me, what rules you think should be put in place to stop people from renting? Poor people aren’t allowed to rent houses? People with criminal backgrounds aren’t allowed to rent houses? You cannot discriminate against people and pick and choose who is allowed to rent and who isn’t. Should we not allow bankers to buy multi-million dollar houses because they have a higher chance of swindling people through fraud?
That being said, I don’t disagree with you that the crime is definitely coming from those areas with high numbers of renters. But keep in mind those people committing the crimes are the exception, not the rule. It’s just a different type of crime being committed.