Meth-trafficking investigation ends in five arrests in Southwest Florida

A yearlong investigation ended Friday when the Collier County Sheriff's Office and other agencies arrested six people involved in trafficking methamphetamine in South Florida and California.

Arrests were made in Collier, Lee and Sarasota counties, and in California. 

The sting was called Operation Ice Breaker. "Ice" is a common street name for meth, and detectives thought of adding "Breaker" to the name because of Michael Stonebreaker, one of the "big fish," said Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. 

During the investigation, detectives seized or purchased about 6 pounds of crystal meth, which had a street value of $96,000, Rambosk's office said. It was the most meth the Collier Sheriff's Office ever has seized.

It was "a collaborative effort between our local, state and federal law enforcement partners," State Attorney Amira Fox said at a news conference Friday.

Five SW Florida residents arrested

Arrested Thursday were: 

• Michael Stonebreaker, 48, of Naples, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to traffic meth and two counts of trafficking meth. His bail was set at $3.25 million.
• Biron Bacher, 48, of Cape Coral, was charged with conspiracy to traffic meth and trafficking meth. Bail: $2 million.
• Stephanie Shaw, 43, of Goodland, was charged with conspiracy to traffic meth and possession of meth. Bail: $300,000.
• Jason Garff, 49, of Naples, was charged with possession of meth. Bail: $25,000.

Brian Tharp, 43, of Venice, was arrested May 19 by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and charged with trafficking meth and possessing a controlled substance without a prescription. He remained in the Sarasota County Jail on Friday. Bail: $501,500.

California man also arrested

Octavio Hernandez, 37 of Santa Ana, California, was arrested Friday by agents with the California Drug Enforcement Administration.

Hernandez has been charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine, 200 grams or more; and two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, 200 grams or more. He is being held in California.

Meth, pot, pills, cash seized

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office stated it seized 8.49 pounds of meth, 454.6 grams of marijuana, 67 prescription pills and $163,000 in cash.

In total, those involved in the meth trafficking ring in South Florida and California conspired to traffic about 22.5 pounds of crystal meth, worth almost $360,000 on the street, authorities said.

Determined detectives 

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Investigations Capt. John Walsh emphasized the significant amount of detective work that went into the sting.

"It's a 24-hour, 7-day a week job," Walsh said. "People have been away from their families to do this, but it is for a cause."

Walsh said the operation was a direct result of the nation's opioid epidemic. 

Walsh said authorities have seen such arrests directly affect death and overdose rates in Sarasota and other counties.

"This arrest has saved people's lives," Walsh said.