Seventeen individuals have been indicted as a result of an investigation into a drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg announced recently. Those charged allegedly flew methamphetamine and heroin out of the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) in connection with a drug trafficking organization (DTO), the Orlando-area U.S. Attorney's Office said in a July 20 press release.
According to flight records, the drug operation involved more than 350 flights typically between Orlando International Airport in Florida and Palm Springs Airport or the Los Angeles International Airport in California. The DTO has operated largely through the use of couriers who fly to California from Florida with large sums of cash to purchase drugs they would transport back to Florida in their luggage on commercial flights.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office press release, Dudzinski Poole headed the DTO, which allegedly trafficked large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl through commercial planes, trains and the mail since at least 2017.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has already confiscated over 250 pounds of drugs, mainly consisting of methamphetamine and fentanyl, the release said. The defendants in this case allegedly performed different roles within the DTO, encompassing suppliers, distributors, couriers and courier coordinators. Additionally, each defendant faces charges of money-laundering conspiracy.
Apart from trafficking drugs through commercial flights and trains, Poole and his associates operated several stash houses and received numerous packages of methamphetamine from California and other drugs, including fentanyl, from China, the news release said. Poole's supplier in California, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, sent packages ranging from one pound to over 10 pounds methamphetamine in each instance.
To facilitate the drug shipments, Poole allegedly provided the supplier with addresses, such as those of his co-conspirators' homes. Between 2021 and 2023, investigators have identified approximately 400 packages shipped from California in connection with this DTO, the release said.