A more-than-yearlong federal and local investigation into a drug pipeline from Mexico, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Palm Coast led to the indictment on federal trafficking and conspiracy charges of nine individuals, including two from Palm Coast and three from Bunnell.
Drugs were being shipped in from Phoenix to Palm Coast on commercial trucks. “This is the largest drug trafficking investigation in the history of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said.
Staly, U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg–who covers 93 counties–and Sheri Onks, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office, announced the indictments this afternoon at the Sheriff’s Operations Center in Bunnell. Eight law enforcement agencies took part in the investigation.
The local suspects are Tyrone James Jones, 55, and Zara Adriana Mascarella, 20, of Palm Coast, Alfred Lamar Shavers, 48, Camarie Dontre Shavers, 23, and Alfred Lamar Shavers Jr., 26, all of Bunnell. Others indicted are from Phoenix and Green Cove Springs.
Saul Sandoval, 36, and Luis Miguel Hernandez, 36, of Phoenix, were the starting point of the trafficking operation in Phoenix. “Investigators estimate that this drug trafficking organization has shipped over 300 kilograms of drugs into Flagler County and Volusia County since 2021,” Handberg said. Investigators have seized some 44 kilograms meth, two and a half kilograms of cocaine and a full kilogram of fentanyl. The three drugs are the leading causes of drug overdoses in Florida.
“These federal charges are serious,’ the U.S. attorney said. “Of the eight defendants who’ve been arrested. six of them are facing up to life in federal prison. The other two defendants are facing up to 40 years ago prison.”
The FBI served warrants at six locations in Flagler and Volusia counties last October. “Many of the media notice that the FBI was in town,” Staly said. “We can’t really hide the FBI too much” when they operate in the county, but the sheriff’s office could not confirm the agents’ presence or work, since the investigation was ongoing.
“Those search warrants resulted in the seizure of nine firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition possessed by one of the defendants in this case, Alfred Lamar Shavers,” Handberg said. Authorities seized seven firearms or firearms suppressors, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition during the investigation.
“The FBI has seen an uptick in violence throughout the United States over the past few years, including right here in Northern and Central Florida.” Onks said at the afternoon press conference in Bunnell. “Much of the violence can be attributed to gangs and cartels who are moving fentanyl and other deadly deadly drugs across the border and into our communities.” She described today’s arrests are proof that “our efforts are making a difference here in Central Florida,” giving credit to the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement agencies.
She pleaded with help from the community: “As we tackle this continuing problem, Anyone who witnesses something suspicious related to violence or drug I urge you to contact your local police department contact the FBI and work with us to keep your community safe.”
Staly, who compared the case to “Breaking bad,” the Netflix series, had a message for “keyboard warriors that make snide online comments about our street level drug dealing arrest, and claim that we never arrest the king operation.” He said Operation Iceman, as the investigation was called, “is proof that while you might not see it, or know what we are doing, we are always working to get to the top tier of the drug trafficking organizations and today is proof of that work to the consumers.”
Asked about how the arrests would affect a lowering of violence on the streets, Handberg said “we may not be able to measure it in any sort of statistical way. But I know that these cases make a difference, not only to protecting people from the drugs that are being distributed and the dangerous drugs that are being distributed but also to the extent there is any violence associated with any of these organizations.”
Others involved in the investigation were the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the DeLand Police Department.
pete says
GOOD JOB
Salty guy says
I’m voting for Rick to stay as our sheriff indefinitely
Dave says
Nice to see the FBI going after real criminals for once instead of public officials with a particular point of view.
marty barrett says
Ah, Staly. Nothing like taking a victory lap without a victory (“Mission accomplished!”). You’ve knocked five teeth out of a shark, they’ll be regenerated within a week. Adorable naivete though
Joseph Barand says
I understand the FBI has been in Flagler County for sometime investigating those involved in the January insurrection. Don’t be surprised if some well know local politicans are the next to head up the perp walks.
ME says
WAY TO GO FBI AND FCSO.
James says
“… Mexico, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Palm Coast…”
Mexico, Los Angeles, Phoenix… and Palm Coast???
I can understand the Mexico, Los Angeles, Phoenix part… but Palm Coast? Said all in the same breath? Just one more thing to add to the list of why it really is time to consider moving on.
Just my opinion.
pete says
It’s all of the above,and everywhere else too. Your not going to get away from it. There’s plenty of reasons to leave Palm Coast but that isn’t one of them.
James says
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Just my opinion. :-)
jane doh says
why palm coast? there must be a market for what they are selling. if they didn’t have buyers, then the market would go elsewhere.
James says
‘… “This is the largest drug trafficking investigation in the history of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. … Staly, who compared the case to “Breaking bad,” the Netflix series, had a message for “keyboard warriors that make snide online comments about our street level drug dealing arrest, and claim that we never arrest the king operation.” He said Operation Iceman, as the investigation was called, “is proof that while you might not see it, or know what we are doing, we are always working to get to the top tier of the drug trafficking organizations and today is proof of that work to the consumers.” …’
This was not a “consumer” crackdown, this was a “kingpin” or “linchpin” operation. Palm Coast, the next “nexus” in drug trafficking? That’s what they’re implying. Why? How?
I’m sure the area always had drug related issues, but that’s not what’s being said here.
Just my opinion.
The Geode says
ROFL! He is patting himself on the back calling THIS arrest “top tier”? It is “meh” at best. He can convince you rubes of anything because most of you don’t have a clue of how things work beyond your gated communities and suburbs. In the end, this is barely a blip on the radar. He can involve the FBI, CIA, DHS, and every other acronym to go after guppies but can’t solve the murder of Robert Stubbs that happened in a city the size of a queen-size mattress. WAY TO GO …NOT!
Jimbo99 says
Had to research & read up on the Stubbs story. You have to figure the one’s involved in that murder probably got their’s somewhere else in another drug deal gone bad. Usually happens that way ? What a mess that lifetime was, sooner or later they weed themselves out. As long as whoever did it, stays in that area of Bunnell, not sure anyone cares if the crime is ever solved. I guess the family still sees Stubbs as the child, the USMC part of his life. Somewhere after that his life became what it did and ended that way. Perhaps solving the crime would only lead to even more of a tarnished reputation ? Better to leave it where it is than drag the man’s legacy thru the mud even more than what the denial is for where he went as a human being ? Perhaps any closure is as bad as the crime itself.
https://flaglerlive.com/502-east-drain/
https://flaglerlive.com/john-stubbs-homicide/
https://flaglerlive.com/stubbs-miller/
Florida Girl says
I remember Mr. Stubbs untimely death. I also remember that the crime scene he was laying in was completely contaminated by those in his living community before law enforcement was even called – touching his body and everything around him. I remember thinking that must have been done intentionally because who does that, really. I think those that did not want law enforcement to build a case they can do something with would do that. Not FCSO. I also find it strange you would mention Mr. Stubbs under this article. Was Mr. Stubbs affiliated with the men arrested?
Please says
Can any Law Enforcement agency in FL solve the murder of Palm Coast resident David Rainey? He was murdered in Dixie County in July of 2021
Bob says
Palm coast crime is up there with the rest of big cities, lol. Always was a huge gang and drug presence here. Time to move out
pete says
You’re not going to get away from it,it’s everywhere,
Hmmm says
Im telling ya. I have to be careful what color clothes i leave the house in. And they’re selling drugs door to door like girl scout cookies. I had to put up a no soliciting sign. Its rough out here in these palm coast streets.
Florida Girl says
I don’t care WHO is taking a victory lap as this is a victory for the residents of Flagler County and our children. These (cringe worthy) arrests are a good beginning. Certainly, this is not the last of law enforcements work here in Flagler as the drugs run deep in this county. KEEP GOING! And keep up the good work!
ronald justice says
Wow no white supremacists here? Guess i need to look elsewhere? FBI any word on those 33 emails that Clinton destroyed? lol. Drugs and gangs are this countries biggest
problem not white people.