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Press Release

Fourteen Individuals Indicted In Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy

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

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces today the unsealing of a federal indictment charging 14 individuals with conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana. Law enforcement teams in Florida, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi made the arrests earlier today in this joint law enforcement investigation, dubbed Operation Wooly Swamp. If convicted, each individual faces a maximum penalty of 10 years, up to life in federal prison.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force 2), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and the Clearwater Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James C. Preston, Jr.

OPERATION WOOLY SWAMP
Name
Age
Residence
26 Wimauma, Florida

Armando Martinez-Hernandez
a/k/a Choco, a/k/a Mando, a/k/a Juan

45 Weslaco, Texas
Luis Alberto Garcia,
a/k/a Louie, a/k/a Chuey 		32 Weslaco, Texas
Herman Martinez 23 Wimauma, Florida
Ismael Martinez, a/k/a Jose 24 Wimauma, Florida
Charles Daniel Law 52 Riverview, Florida
Anthony Edward Peters, a/k/a Tony



36 Clearwater, Florida
Joseph Fairweather, a/k/a Joey 28 Holiday, Florida
Christopher Hart, a/k/a Chris 39 New Port Richey, Florida
Paul Jason Pless 37 Gibsonton, Florida
Charles Francis Martin, III, a/k/a Chuck 42 Riverview, Florida
Cynthia Ford Rico, a/k/a Cindy 56 West Memphis, Arkansas
Pamela Ford Walker 54 Oxford, Mississippi
David Ray Hobbs 63 Memphis, Tennessee






Updated January 26, 2015
Component
USAO - Florida, Middle
Press Release Number: Gaudencio Garcia,
a/k/a Pelon, a/k/a Hugo,
a/k/a Jose

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