FLORIDA — A newly formed Homeland Security Task Force in Tampa has arrested six people accused in a federal fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, according to investigators.
The task force, led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was created under a federal executive order and combines local, state and federal agencies to target crimes including drug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons offenses and financial crimes.
Investigators said the case began with the Tampa Police Department and expanded as multiple agencies became involved.
Authorities identified the suspects as Theophilus Williams, Maruice Copeland, Edward Verdi-Bruno, Daniel Hernandez-Hernandez, Roshard Lewis and Journey Harding. Officials said the six defendants were indicted on charges alleging they conspired to distribute fentanyl in the Tampa Bay area.
Investigators said one of the suspects, Verdi-Bruno, was already in federal custody and allegedly coordinated fentanyl distribution from prison while serving time for similar crimes.
Officials said five of the defendants live in the Tampa Bay region.
“Fentanyl right now is the leading cause of deaths in America,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Calvo said. Authorities said more than 250,000 fentanyl-related deaths have occurred nationwide since 2021.
