Tallahassee, FL - A Deltona man is handed down a 20-year prison sentence for distributing heroin throughout west Volusia County.
Early today (March 28th), Attorney General Ashley Moody's officehelped sentence 44-year-old Henry Bermudez, who pleaded guilty to distributing heroin.
Charges also include conspiracy to traffic in heroin, trafficking in heroin and two other felony counts.
"Heroin is a deadly drug helping fuel the opioid crisis claiming 17 lives a day in Florida," said Moody. "We must do everything in our power to stop the trafficking of heroin and other dangerous opioids in our state."
Bermudez was just one of 19 arrested in a large heroin distribution ring. An investigation into that ring began in 2017 when arrested drug users were caught with small amounts of heroin in the county.
Following those arrests, the Volusia Bureau of Investigation and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office began a length investigation into a heroin trafficking organization.
Interviews with the users led to Bermudez being labeled as the ring leader. According to VCSO, he obtained heroin from a supplier in Orange County, and then transported it to Volusia.
After gathering evidence, Bermudez was arrested in Deltona, along with seven other lower-level drug dealers and 12 users.
In the seizure of evidence, authorities found approximately 1.5 kilos of heroin, worth $150,000.
"This conviction and prison sentence will make Volusia County a safer place," said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. "It should serve as a warning to other drug dealers thinking about preying on our community."
The sentences for the drug dealers arrested ranged from three to 17 years in prison.
