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Press Release

Four Individuals Charged Federally for Drug Operation in Cutler Manor

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Katherine Fernandez Rundle, State Attorney, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division; and Juan J. Perez, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) announced that Edward Lee Williams, 30, Kenyada Pierce, 34, Martavious Randall, 38, and William Lovett, 36, all of Miami, Florida, have been charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances.

 

These charges arose from an investigation to address widespread drug dealing within the Cutler Manor Apartments, located at 10875 SW 216 Street, Miami, Florida. The Cutler Manor Apartments are a Section 8 public housing project located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County just north of Homestead, Florida. During the course of their investigation, law enforcement were able to purchase various controlled substances from subjects who resided in, or operated out of, the Cutler Manor Apartments. These criminal complaints are part of a multi-agency operation, including the FBI, DEA and MDPD, that seeks the arrest of 40 individuals.

 

In August 2016, after a similar law enforcement operation targeting drug sales in Cutler Manor, fourteen individuals associated with the Cutler Manor Apartments were indicted federally in the Southern District of Florida for possession with intent to distribute various narcotics, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841. Each of the defendants pled guilty for their respective participation in the criminal conduct and received sentences ranging from time served to 151 months in prison.

 

Following the 2016 indictments, law enforcement continued to investigate the sale of narcotics both at the Cutler Manor Apartments and out of single-family houses located nearby, including throughout the Perrine area, in the Southern District of Florida.

 

According to the criminal complaints, law enforcement purchased various narcotics, including methylone, known as “Molly,” cocaine, and heroin from individuals both within the Cutler Manor Apartments and at nearby residences located in Perrine, including from defendants Williams, Pierce, Randall, and Lovett. During the course of today’s operations, law enforcement recovered both narcotics and firearms.

 

If convicted of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison.

 

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, DEA, and MDPD. Mr. Greenberg also thanked the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for their assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cary Aronovitz.

 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Updated August 31, 2017

Topic
Drug Trafficking