Juan "The Ice Man" Romo-Jimenez, whom authorities identified as the leader of a drug ring, was arrested Wednesday morning when cops raided his home near Apopka.Nearly three dozen people, including Romo-Jimenez, were named in a grand-jury indictment accusing them of conspiracy to traffic cocaine over 400 grams, a first-degree felony, the Orange County Sheriff's Office stated.Five documented gang members and associates, also including Romo-Jimenez, were charged with criminal racketeering.
The street gang named in the indictment is linked to homicides, home invasions and armed robberies across the state, sheriff's Cmdr. Victor Payne said.
"This case had a huge community impact," said Lt. Carl Metzger of the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation. "Residents in that portion of Orange County should sleep better."Four SWAT teams executed the search warrants early Wednesday, netting 33 arrests, including seven people in custody from a March sting and four others not named in the indictment.Officers are still searching for 14 people.Six months ago, Orange County's gang unit began investigatinggang members and associates selling drugs in Pine Hills, Apopka, Winter Park and northwest Orange County. Investigators found that the drugs being sold were coming from Mexico, Payne said.Last month, seven people connected to the drug-smuggling ring who were supplying the Orange County dealers were arrested, including Romo-Jimenez's main supplier, Metzger said.
Deputies recovered 4 kilograms of cocaine worth about $300,000 and four guns in March, Payne said.On Wednesday, several agencies worked together on the arrests. Metzger called the collaboration a "perfect example of teamwork."During Wednesday's operation, officers recovered $3,000 in cash, six cars, 110 grams of cocaine and several guns, including three rifles and four handguns.
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