5 plead guilty in east Orange County drug-trafficking ring bust, federal and local officials say

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The FBI, the MBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office have dismantled a cocaine and heroin drug-trafficking ring in east Orange County, the agencies said Wednesday during a joint news conference.

The agencies said members of a violent street gang known as the Oviedo Soldiers were sentenced after they were convicted of federal narcotics-trafficking charges. The sentences came five months after the arrests.

Officials said Freddrick Dorr, James Dellafield Jr., Beth Farber and George Materazzi were sentenced to federal prison for drug-trafficking convictions. They said a fifth person, Danny Hampton, is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

Hampton, the investigation's main target, will spend at least 15 years behind bars, officials said.

The others arrested in the bust took plea deals that will send them to prison for three to seven years.

Watch the full news conference below:

Authorities said Hampton and Dellafield pleaded guilty to an additional charge of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the men were affiliated with the gang and distributed heroin, cocaine and other narcotics in Seminole, Orange, Osceola and Volusia counties.

"This gang has existed since 2000 and is known to use violence towards law enforcement to further their drug trade and other illegal activities," Demings said. "These five defendants have a total 69 previous arrests combined."

FBI spokesman Ron Harber warned other drug traffickers that sooner or later they will experience the same fate as Hampton, Dorr, Dellafield, Farber and Materazzi.

"You can rest assured, we will deal with you," he said. "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter ow when."

Although the county's drug problem remains unsolved, authorities said they hope the arrests and the sentences will at least make a dent in the drug-trafficking trade.

“The investigation and prosecution of members of this organization demonstrates the collective hard work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutorial team," acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow said. "We will continue to combine and utilize our resources to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in our communities."

Demings said the bust will have a positive impact on public safety in the community because of the violence often associated with drug trafficking.

Investigators said members of the gang could be connected to the murder of a Seminole County couple.

Ann Marie and James Smith were found fatally shot in their Oviedo home in April 2013. The case remains open and no arrests have been made, police said.

Cox Media Group