TAMPA, Fla. — Four men have been arrested and are facing serious charges in connection with a large drug-trafficking operation that has ties to Puerto Rico, officials revealed in a Hillsborough County court on Friday.
The defendants, William Rivera Diaz, Alfredo Delvalle Ravelo, Jorge Wilfredo Vargas Torres, and Carlos Acevedo Varela, were in court for a bond hearing. Ruth Allyn, a fifth defendant, was not physically present but was represented by her attorney, who argued on her behalf.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutors have presented evidence of fentanyl trafficking, including testimony from undercover detectives. The detectives revealed that they conducted undercover buys, purchasing significant amounts of fentanyl from Vargas Torres and Acevedo Varela. One detective detailed how they purchased 45 ounces of fentanyl for over $45,000 from Vargas Torres last year.
“We conducted several buys over a period of time,” said the undercover detective, adding that Vargas Torres would meet him in a vehicle to complete the exchange. Investigators had also wiretapped Vargas Torres’ phone, which led to the identification of other individuals involved in the trafficking operation.
The wiretap revealed information about the network supplying the fentanyl, which eventually led authorities to Rivera Diaz and Delvalle Ravelo. However, some defense attorneys contested the evidence, arguing that certain transactions were not directly witnessed by law enforcement.
While the fentanyl purchased was tested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), revealing the presence of para-fluorofentanyl — a stronger variant of fentanyl — some defense lawyers noted the absence of photographic or video evidence of the undercover buys in court.
Several family members of the accused appeared in court, with Vargas Torres’ father expressing disbelief at the allegations against his son, noting that his 23-year-old son has a disability and is a good father. Similarly, family members of Rivera Diaz spoke out, calling him a good father and employed individual.
However, prosecutors argued that releasing any of the defendants would pose a danger to the community, given the nature of the charges. The prosecution also emphasized that the operation involved significant quantities of fentanyl and cocaine.
Charges Faced by Defendants:
Ruth Allyn: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device and conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs (4-14g).
William Rivera Diaz: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device and conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs (4-14g).
Alfredo Delvalle Ravelo: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device and conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs (4-14g).
Jorge Wilfredo Vargas Torres: RICO violation, RICO conspiracy, unlawful use of a two-way communication device (8 counts), trafficking in fentanyl (28g or more) x6, trafficking in cocaine (28g-200g), and trafficking in cocaine (200g-400g).
Carlos Acevedo Varela: Unlawful use of a two-way communication device, trafficking in fentanyl (28g or more), and trafficking in fentanyl (4-14g).
Judge J. Logan Murphy will decide whether to set bond for each of the defendants by Monday.
