Frank FernandezThe Daytona Beach News-Journal
Five Flagler County residents, including a father and two sons, were among nine indicted on federal charges in a cross-country drug-trafficking operation, law enforcement officials announced during a press conference Monday in Bunnell.
Alfred Lamar Shavers, 48, and his sons, Camarie Dontre Shavers, 23, and Alfred Lamar Shavers Jr., 26, all of Bunnell, were among those arrested as part of Operation Ice Man, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said.
The elder Shavers was charged with drug-trafficking conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to life in federal prison, according to law enforcement. Both of his sons were indicted on drug-trafficking conspiracy and each faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
Palm Coast news: Robbery suspect shot 8 times by store clerk after fleeing from Palm Coast to Georgia
State news: School shooting threat suspect arrested for causing mass panic facing serious jail time
"Obviously, the poison peddler apple didn't fall far from the tree," Staly said of the father and sons.
Tyrone James Jones, 55, of Palm Coast was charged with drug-trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute; he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Zara Adriana Mascarella, 20, also of Palm Coast, was charged with drug-trafficking conspiracy and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The Shavers, Jones and Macarella were all distributing drugs in Central Florida, authorities stated. Staly described them as "high-level drug traffickers."
Staly was joined at the press conference by Roger Handberg, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Sherri E. Onks, special agent in charge of the FBI Field Office in Jacksonville, and Marcus Anderson, assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration District Office in Orlando.
Jimmie Lee Bizzell, 53, of Green Cove Springs, was indicted on drug-trafficking conspiracy and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. He drove trucks carrying the drugs, law enforcement stated.
Luis Miguel Hernandez, 36, and Saul Sandoval, 39, both of Phoenix, were also indicted; each faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.
The arrests took place Thursday and Friday, Staly said. An unnamed co-conspirator was also arrested but is not being named because the investigation is continuing.
Law enforcement in Volusia County began investigating in February 2022, and later contacted the Flagler County Sheriff's Office for assistance, Staly said.
The drug-trafficking ring relied on commercial trucks to transport illegal drugs from Phoenix to Florida, Staly said.
"This is the largest drug trafficking investigation in the history of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office," Staly said.
Law enforcement served search warrants in October in Volusia and Flagler counties and seized 98 pounds of methamphetamine and 6 pounds of cocaine with a combined total street value of $2.9 million, Staly said. The drugs originated in Mexico, according to law enforcement.
Law enforcement in Arizona seized about 10,000 fentanyl pills likely made in Mexico.
"These pills had a street value of over $600,000 and the potential of killing 670,000 people," Staly said.
Authorities also seized nine guns and hundreds of bullets at the elder Shaver's residence.
Law enforcement also seized 18 firearms at Sandoval's home in Phoenix, along with fentanyl and $5,000 in cash, law enforcement stated.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, DeLand Police Department and the Daytona Beach Police Department were also part of the investigation.
Defendants face federal charges
Handberg, whose office will prosecute the cases in federal court in Orlando, commended the agencies involved in taking down the drug-trafficking operation allegedly responsible for shipping more than 300 kilograms of drugs into Flagler and Volusia counties since 2021.
He warned investigators would continue to hold anyone accountable for drug trafficking.
“Let this be a message to anyone who illegally conspires to traffic methamphetamine, cocaine or fentanyl in this community,” Handberg said.
Onks said fentanyl and other deadly drugs are a “threat of epidemic proportion” and said the FBI is working with federal, local and state law enforcement to arrest drug dealers.
“Together we arrested over 20,000 violent criminals and we are still actively pursuing close to 400 federal investigations against transnational organized criminals and cartel leadership across the country,” Onks said.
She asked anyone who witnesses anything suspicious related to violence or drugs to contact local police or the FBI to help law enforcement keep communities safe.
"Fighting violent crime is a responsibility we all share and we need help from you, the community," Onks said.
Residents can reach the Flagler County Sheriff's Office at 386-313-4911.
