Federal Jury Finds Miami And Orlando Men Guilty Of Multi-Kilo Cocaine Conspiracy, Trafficking, And Firearms Charges

Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found five individuals guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 280 grams of “crack” cocaine. Jimmy Remy Fernetus (30, Miami), Edson Gelin (40, Orlando), Raymond Mike Ayap (Orlando, 41), Kissinger St. Fleur (36, Orlando), and Gerardson Norgaisse (33, Orlando) were found guilty of separate counts of distribution of cocaine or possession with the intent to distribute cocaine or “crack” cocaine. The jury also found Fernetus and Gelin guilty of two counts each of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Ayap, a citizen of Haiti, faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison, and potential deportation from the United States. Because of their prior felony drug offenses, the remaining individuals each face a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. Fernetus and Gelin each face additional consecutive sentences for the firearms convictions. The sentencing hearings are scheduled for May 15, 2018.

 According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, these individuals were members of a drug trafficking organization with ties to Miami. Fernetus and other conspirators sold cocaine and “crack” cocaine from two houses south of downtown Orlando. Gelin, who was stopped on the Florida Turnpike by law enforcement in June 2016 while heading toward Orlando with two kilograms of cocaine, had also been selling cocaine in Orlando. Fernetus and Gelin were armed with handguns when purchases were made from the houses. Gelin also later sold cocaine from a third house in Orlando. Ayap, St. Fleur, and Norgaisse each purchased distribution amounts of cocaine or “crack” cocaine on numerous occasions during the course of the investigation. Agents recovered multiple firearms, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and thousands of dollars in cash during searches conducted at the three houses.

Members of the Orlando organization had also been expecting to receive at least a portion of the cocaine being transported from Haiti to Miami on a 160-foot cargo ship named the Lady Philomena, which was seized from the Miami River. On March 25, 2017, 47 kilograms of cocaine were unloaded from that ship.

Eric Jean Gilles (37, Miami), Ronny Joseph (33, Orlando), and Cristobal Sotomayor-Cebollero (32, Orlando) previously pleaded guilty to charges related to this investigation and are awaiting sentencing. The cocaine trafficked into Orlando was determined to originate from Miami. Numerous others have been convicted or are awaiting trial in related cases.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Miami-Dade Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Jackson Boggs Jr. and Shawn Napier.