Volusia County heroin ring dismantled in ‘Operation Geronimo'
DELTONA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A 7-month joint investigation into heroin trafficking in Volusia County culminated in a series of arrests and drug seizures Tuesday.
The accused ringleaders and several members of the organization, which authorities say operated primarily in the Deltona and Orange City areas, were locked up Tuesday morning, facing charges ranging from conspiracy to traffic heroin to solicitation to deliver a controlled substance.
The accused ringleaders, 42-year-old Sergio Perez and 27-year-old Melanie Cunningham, both of Deltona, had each been arrested recently – together, after a late-night traffic stop last week in Orange City.
Deputies said the traffic stop revealed Cunningham was in possession of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, Suboxone, cannabis and cannabis oil. Perez was also charged with possession of cannabis oil and booked into jail, where he remained held without bond Tuesday on several probation violations related to burglary and grand theft, and where he received his new charges Tuesday.
Cunningham had bailed out of jail since that arrest, but was back in there again Tuesday on her new charges.
Detectives also identified the organization’s source of supply, which they identify as 44-year-old Roberto Segarra-Garcia, of St. Cloud, who was already in custody Tuesday.
Agents with the Volusia Bureau of Investigation, Deltona Narcotics Enforcement Team and VCSO Major Case Unit conducted the extensive undercover investigation.