Thread: 21 arrested in East Fort Myers sweep

Suspects face drug, immigration charges

By Ed Johnson
ejohnson@news-press.com
Originally posted on May 07, 2007

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 7/1075/ACC

Eighteen people were arrested on drug charges and another three on immigration violations as the Fort Myers Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration wrapped up an eight-month undercover operation along Palm Beach Boulevard.

Investigators are continuing to trace the source of the narcotics and further arrests are possible, Fort Myers police Lt. Rich Carr said, as police hunted another 10 suspects as the weekend concluded.

The raids come as local law enforcement tries to staunch a growing drug trade in Lee County.

Palm Beach Boulevard — which stretches east of downtown Fort Myers and is lined with Mexican restaurants, bars and money transfer storefronts — has seen an increase in robberies, mostly targeting Hispanics, Fort Myers police Chief Hilton Daniels said.

One of those robberies resulted in the Feb. 17 killing of Francisco Tiu. The murder of the Guatemalan man remains unsolved.

The Fort Myers raid is the biggest for the city so far this year and comes on the heels of similar sweeps throughout the county.

In the past month, Lee County sheriff’s deputies have rounded up more than two dozen suspects in undercover operations in Lehigh Acres. Those investigations also generated spin-offs with leads to out- of-country drug providers, sheriff’s Capt. Dominick Ferrante said.

In the Fort Myers raids, investigators seized 4 kilograms of cocaine and smaller quantities of crack cocaine and heroin, police said. Another 21/2 ounces of cocaine was seized at Karlov Street and a gun was found at Las Dueñas Bar on Friday, police said.

“We saw that this case had the potential to develop further and we were glad to have the chance to work with the DEA to put it together,” Daniels said.

Raid targets

The investigation centered on four restaurants and bars along Palm Beach Boulevard, alleged fronts for illegal drug distribution, Daniels said.

Proprietors of El Coqui Restaurant, 4008 Palm Beach Blvd.; Las Dueñas Lounge, 3819 Palm Beach Blvd.; and Club 809, 3228 Palm Beach Blvd., were charged with federal and state drug distribution charges, Daniels said.

Another bar, the Tropical Nightclub, 3639 Palm Beach Blvd., was raided by police, but no charges were filed, Carr said.

Sixty-eight officers and agents executed search warrants Friday night, Carr said. A team of seven immigration agents accompanied the raiding parties to arrest immigration violators.

Minerva Galvan, 40, owner of Las Dueñas, was arrested on federal charges of drug trafficking, possession of narcotics and conspiracy to distribute drugs, Carr said.

Galvan had complained to The News-Press two months ago about a lack of police presence along Palm Beach Boulevard.

“When I read that in the paper, I had to bite my tongue,” Daniels said. “I knew that this woman was one of the sources of crime in the area, and it was galling to hear her complain about the lack of police response.”

Galvan hid her face in the backseat of a patrol car Friday night and would not comment.

She remains in custody, according to Lee County Jail records.

Since September, police and federal agents have been orchestrating undercover buys of narcotics in each of the raided bars and restaurants, Carr said.

Earlier arrests were made April 24 when Luis and Janet Salas, the owners of El Coqui Restaurant, were arrested on charges of allegedly obtaining a pound of cocaine for an undercover officer, according to a federal arrest complaint. The couple led investigators to their alleged supplier, Tomas Rivera, who was arrested the next day, the complaint read.

Earlier, the Salases had told The News-Press they were supporting a community effort to fight crime on Palm Beach Boulevard.

“We’re hoping that these arrests of business owners and employees will reduce drug sales and use as well as the crime they generate,” Daniels said. “These people had successful businesses and were using them as fronts to deal drugs. Imagine the money they were making, and the pain they brought to the community.”

Agents at loss

Immigration agents seemed to have the hardest time sorting out what violations, if any, were present.

At Club 809, they stood by as police checked identity papers of 10 men. Three had no identification and were released after a computerized check did not reveal any arrest warrants or detention orders on the information they supplied.

Three others were arrested at Las Dueñas after producing counterfeit driver licenses, falsified Mexican Consular papers and a fake resident alien card.

Immigration agents said they have no grounds to hold anyone unless there are other criminal charges or the person supplied information that is registered on a list of persons ordered deported.

At Club 809, some of the released men appeared stunned. One kept looking back at the police as he walked off.

“I think he’s afraid we’re going to change our minds,” Carr said.

— Staff writer Pat Gillespie contributed to this report.

It's about time! I taught 12 years ago at Lehigh Sr. High, and that place was full of drugs and the sons and daughters of illegal aliens. So much money was going into ESL classes, and it was difficult teaching chemistry to students who could not understand half of what I said. My house was robbed by three students and that's when I decided to get out and move. Those students were so rude and beligerent it was disgusting and very few had respect for others and themselves. Keep it up Lee County Sheriffs!

At Club 809, they stood by as police checked identity papers of 10 men. Three had no identification and were released after a computerized check did not reveal any arrest warrants or detention orders on the information they supplied.

Absolute B.S.! Hmmm......and Bush promised no more catch and release. So now it appears ICE is readjusting their previous way of doing business - now illegals without identification are being released unless there is a warrant or detention order on them.

If this is a new policy, it could mean all illegals not under a deportation order or criminal warrant are released. I certainly hope this was an isolated incident. Something tells me that political pressure from the Democrats is taking its toll on ICE.

News Update

Latest News - Posted 1:44 P.m.
FM police: Drug sweep only the beginning
By Ed Johnson
ejohnson@news-press.com
Originally posted on May 07, 2007

In the wake of the city’s biggest single drug enforcement operation, Fort Myers officials concede there is still a lot left to be done.

At a morning press briefing Fort Myers police Chief Hilton Daniels said investigators plan to build on information developed in a recently concluded eight month undercover investigation to target bigger offenders and suppliers.

“These investigations never stop,” Daniels said. “You continue to build on the information you receive.”

Police are continuing to track eight people still wanted on drug charges, stemming from Operation Palm Beach Boulevard, Daniels said.

Twenty three people have already been arrested and more than four kilograms of cocaine were seized in the investigation that culminated in a series of weekend raids and arrests, he added.

City officials must now weigh what steps to take against the four businesses police said were fronts for drug traffickers.

Those restaurants and bars, Tropical Nightclub, Las Duenas Lounge, Club 809 and El Coqui, are all located along a mile strip of Palm Beach Boulevard in east Fort Myers.

Daniels said they could face closure under the city’s nuisance abatement ordinance.

Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Molloy pledged his office’s assistance for the city’s efforts.

“We want the message out there that if you get involved in dealing drugs getting arrested is not a chance. It is an eventuality. You will be caught,” he said.

Meanwhile, Immigration officials are examining their options with those arrested.

“Most of those arrested are legal permanent residents,” said Brendan Quigley, a representative of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Upon their convictions they will most likely be deported.”

City Councilman Johnny Streets, himself a retired city police officer, was almost wistful as he assessed the arrests.

“We let them know it’s not business as usual,” he said. “But we have to educate our children and our community that drugs are not acceptable.”

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 60005/1075

Thanks MW

dragonfire wrote:

Thanks MW

You're welcome.