Drug trafficking bust leads to prison sentence for Bradenton man, police say
A judge sentenced a Bradenton man to 15 years in prison after investigators identified him as a key figure in a local drug-trafficking organization, police said.
Rocky Jimenez, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in fentanyl, possession of fentanyl and conspiracy to sell methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of public housing, according to court records. Seven others are also facing charges after a major drug bust, police say.
Jimenez, described by police as a “known gang member,” was one of eight members of a drug-trafficking operation identified during a multi-agency undercover drug sting, according to the Bradenton Police Department. Detectives say they arrested him in December 2023 after witnessing Jimenez conduct several drug sales.
During the five-month investigation, authorities seized more than 120 grams of fentanyl, over 900 grams of methamphetamine and four firearms, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
The investigation began in August 2023 when task force agents obtained a wiretap on the phone of 42-year-old Pedro Garcia, who police describe as a known gang member and convicted felon. Police said intercepted calls and texts revealed repeated communications between Garcia and Jimenez about distributing drugs in Bradenton and throughout Manatee County.
In December 2023, investigators say they conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving Garcia’s home, and a positive alert by a Bradenton Police K9 Blue resulted in a search that uncovered 924.4 grams of methamphetamine.
Drug trafficking ring caught in sting, police say
During search warrants at Garcia’s house and another house that detectives say he frequented, 72.4 grams of fentanyl, two rifles, two handguns and multiple rounds of ammunition were discovered by police, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
Court records show Garcia now faces multiple charges, including three counts of trafficking in fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, conspiracy to sell methamphetamine near public housing, four counts of possession of a firearm by a gang-related convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a gang-related convicted felon.
At the time of his arrest, Garcia was on federal probation for a firearm conviction and out on bond in two Manatee County murder cases, according to court records. The murder charges stem from two cold case killings of rival gang members, according to arrest reports.
In 2023, Garcia was charged in the 2006 shooting death of Guadalupe Vela, who was gunned down while fleeing through a relative’s backyard after an argument outside a Bradenton bar, the Bradenton Herald previously reported. Also in 2023, Garcia was charged in the 2014 murder of Samuel Conde, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
Detectives say Garcia, a known East Side Crip, confessed to multiple people over the years, including fellow inmates, and may be connected to other unsolved violent crimes from the early 2000s. That shooting happened in the 3700 block of Ninth Street East in Bradenton when detectives say several people gathered at a drinking spot when an altercation between rival gang members occurred, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
Detectives said Conde’s murder went unsolved for years due to witnesses remaining “tight-lipped” with information on who shot Conde before evidence finally led them to Garcia’s arrest, according to an arrest report.
Court records show Garcia posted a total of $350,000 in bond between the two cases in order to secure his supervised release before August 2023’s drug trafficking arrest.
Others charged in Bradenton drug bust
According to an arrest report, intercepted phone calls and surveillance during the drug trafficking investigation also led to charges against six other individuals, who are still awaiting trial.
Ernestina Gutierrez, 57, is charged with conspiracy to possess oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, according to court records. Her case remains open with the next hearing scheduled for September.
Cynthia Gutierrez-Mendez, 28, is charged with conspiracy to deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, according to court records.
Gerardo Casiano, 25, faces a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, according to court records. His case has been continued multiple times and is set for another hearing in September.
Court records show 31-year-old Laquinton Trevon Hart is charged with conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a church and failed to appear for a scheduled hearing in April. A judge issued a no-bond bench warrant for his arrest, and his $150,000 bond was forfeited, according to court records.
Pablo Adrian Estrada, 33, is charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and trafficking in methamphetamine. Court records show his case has been delayed several times and is now scheduled for a hearing in September.
Francisco Flores III, 39, is charged with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl. His case has also been continued repeatedly, with the next court date set for September.
Circuit Court Judge Frederick Mercurio gave Jimenez the 15-year prison sentence as part of a seven-year minimum mandatory term under Florida’s drug trafficking statute. Court records show the sentence includes credit for time served, a six-month driver’s license suspension and more than $100,000 in fines and fees.
