CLAY COUNTY, FL. – An alleged multi-pound drug trafficking ring that was bringing fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine into Northeast Florida was busted when the Clay County Drug Enforcement Administration intervened.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody took part in a news conference held Wednesday afternoon by the sheriff’s office to discuss the results of “Operation Lucky 777,” which resulted in the seizure of a large amount of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, cash and illegal means. guns.
“8. 5 kilograms of fentanyl were seized. That’s enough in Northeast Florida to kill 4 million people,” Moody said.
Jason Setzer, 46, of Orange Park, and Alvin Mercado, 38, of Fleming Island, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking operation (DTO).
According to arrest reports, the drug investigation began when the sheriff’s office received information about a DTO using the US Postal Service. The reports say Setzer and Mercado used the Postal Service to get kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl from California. According to investigators, a bulk shipment of the drugs was sent to two addresses on Fleming Island owned by Mercado, and then the drugs were transported to Setzer’s Orange Park home, where they were prepared for street distribution.
“These distributors will push these drugs into every corner of our community,” said Michelle Cook of Clay County.
UNCUT: The Clay County Sheriff’s Office holds a news conference about a drug trafficking operation
Setzer was charged with:
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Conspiracy to traffic more than 2 kg of fentanyl
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Illegal trafficking of more than 700 grams of fentanyl
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Cocaine trade
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Trading method
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Weed storage for more than 20 years
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Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Mercado was accused of:
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Conspiracy to traffic more than 2 kg of fentanyl
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Trafficking in more than 4 grams of fentanyl
SLIDE SHOW: Photos from “Operation Lucky 777′s”
Setzer and Mercado are no strangers to narcotics investigators. In 2001, Setzer was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking ecstasy and cocaine. In 1999, he was convicted of possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana. He also had other prior drug charges that were dismissed.
In 2010, Mercado was convicted of possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana. He also had other prior drug charges that were dismissed.
In this current drug case, Setzer remains jailed on $17.1 million bail and Mercado remains jailed on $10 million bail.
While the Drug Enforcement Administration was not directly involved in this investigation, News4JAX has learned that the DEA’s Jacksonville office has been contacted about the amount of drugs involved in the case.
The announcement of the drug investigation into Setzer and Mercado came a few days later Jacksonville police said seizing 3 kilograms of fentanyl, more than 6,000 counterfeit pills believed to contain fentanyl, and just over 1 kilogram of cocaine during one investigation. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced the same day The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement the arrest of a Georgia man who deputies say was sleeping in a truck with 338 grams of bagged fentanyl.
In recent years, fentanyl has been identified as the leading cause of drug overdose death in the United States
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Medical Examiner’s Office, fentanyl killed 3,244 people in 2019. A year later, the number of deaths from fentanyl rose to 5,302. Then, in the first six months of last year, 2,920 fentanyl-related deaths were reported. The 2021 report is not yet finished to reflect the remaining six months.
When last year’s fatal fentanyl overdose numbers were broken down by the Jacksonville area between January and June, the commission reported 312 deaths. Twenty-two involved fentanyl alone, and 290 involved fentanyl in combination with other drugs.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office announces an arrest following an overdose death
In addition to announcing a major drug bust, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office also announced the arrest of Michael Stanley.
Stanley, 39, was charged with involuntary manslaughter after the fentanyl he was selling led to the overdose death of a man, investigators said.
During the questioning, Stanley made incriminating statements that led to his arrest, detectives said.
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