5 arrested, including gang member, after undercover Bradenton drug bust, police say
Eight members of a drug trafficking operation in Manatee County have been arrested or have warrants out for their arrest after a drug bust by the Bradenton Police Department.
Investigators seized over 120 grams of fentanyl, 924 grams of methamphetamine and four firearms during a five-month-long undercover investigation led by their narcotics unit, Bradenton police announced in a news release Thursday morning.
Detectives say the investigation began in August when they learned that 41-year-old Pedro Garcia, who they say is a documented gang member and convicted felon, was using other people to distribute drugs in Bradenton and throughout Manatee County.
Investigators say the undercover operation that followed resulted in the arrests of Garcia, Rocky Jimenez, 42; Cynthia Gutierrez-Mendez, 26; and 23-year-old Gerardo Casiano for a variety of felony drug charges.
The operation also resulted in the arrest warrants for Pablo Adrian Estrada, 32; Francisco Flores III, 38; and Laquinton Trevon Hart, 30, according to a release.
During the investigation, undercover detectives say they purchased fentanyl from Garcia and a wiretap warrant was authorized for his phone.
Undercover Bradenton drug bust
On Dec. 4, investigators say a traffic stop was conducted 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.
During search warrants on Dec. 21 and 22 at Garcia’s house and another house that detectives say was frequented Garcia, 72.4 grams of fentanyl, two rifles, two handguns and multiple rounds of ammunition were discovered by police.
At the time of his arrest, police say Garcia was on federal probation for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was out on bond for two murder charges in Manatee County.
The investigation was led by the Bradenton Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations, the Central Florida High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Gulf Coast Task Force and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Murder suspect led drug ring, police say
Garcia was arrested in January for his role in a 16-year-old cold case killing in Bradenton when he was charged with the murder of Guadalupe Vela, 20, who was killed in Bradenton in June 2006.
The sheriff’s office said at the time that Garcia, also known as “Pedico” is a known member of the East Side Crib Gang. Vela, who they said was a member of a rival gang, was shot in the back by Garcia after the two got into an argument at a house in the 800 block of 30th Avenue West.
Garcia has also been charged with murder in connection with a second cold case. In June 2022, the sheriff’s office said Garcia was the gunman who killed a rival gang member, Samuel Conde, in 2014.
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.
Conde was known by law enforcement to be a member of the Sur 13 gang. His older brother, Gabriel, was later murdered in a gang-related shooting in 2018, although officials say the shootings were not related.
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 in June.
Court records show Garcia posted bond totaling $350,000 for the two murder charges.
Others charged in drug investigation
According to Bradenton police, this is the full list of charges for those arrested or facing arrest after the investigation:
Pedro Garcia, 41, three counts of trafficking in fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, conspiracy to sell methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of 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
Rocky Jimenez, 42: two counts of trafficking in fentanyl, possession of fentanyl, and conspiracy to sell methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of public housing
Ernestina Gutierrez, 56: conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
Cynthia Gutierrez-Mendez, 26: 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
Gerardo Casiano, 23: conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church
Pablo Adrian Estrada, 32: conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and trafficking in methamphetamine
Francisco Flores III, 38: conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
Laquinton Trevon Hart, 30: conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a church
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Estrada, Flores or Hart is asked to contact Bradenton Police Detective Brandon Kells at brandon.kells@bradentonpd.com.
You can also submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at manateecrimestoppers.com or 866-634-8477 (TIPS).
