11 Gangsters of Orlando Crime Group Face Murder, RICO Charges in Orlando Fentanyl Overdoses

A 10-month fentanyl trafficking investigation has led to the arrest of 11 members of a local Orlando gang who currently face a 37-count indictment—including murder and RICO charges.

Knewz.com has learned that the investigation was carried out by the Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, Orlando Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

State Attorney Andrew Bain announced the charges against the 11 suspects in a press release published on August 7.

The 11 members of the gang Respect, Money Structure/Everybody Killer, or RMS/EBK, have been identified as 20-year-old Jeremiah Maldonado, 26-year-old Zaviar Kidd, 28-year-old Benjamin Rivard, 21-year-old Christian Roux-Rey, 19-year-old Rebecca Murray, 30-year-old Paul Jacas, 19-year-old Carlos Carrasquillo-Rodriguez, 21-year-old Elena Falzone, 21-year-old Olivia Goen, 24-year-old Brenden Haven-Gault, and 25-year-old Eliamne Rodriguez.

It has been alleged that the members of the gang were “selling fentanyl pills disguised to look like prescription 30-milligram Oxycodone pills .”

The pills peddled by the suspects have reportedly resulted in three drug overdose fatalities, hence the murder charges brought against them.

The multi-agency investigation into the gang’s activities – named “Operation Dirty 30s” – was launched in September 2023 after a detective from the Orlando Police Department mentioned one of the aforementioned suspects’ connection to the RMS/EBK gang in conversation with a violent crimes prosecutor.

“They decided to identify the scope of the criminal enterprise and soon learned the OCSO [Orange County Sheriff’s Office] narcotics unit was also working on an investigation into the gang members,” the press release from the State Attorney’s Office mentioned.

“The three agencies joined forces to target RMS/EBK and conduct controlled undercover buys. The operation concluded with the indictment on July 31, effectively dismantling the criminal gang.”

The investigators associated with the operation have stated that the gang was formed by 21-year-old Roux-Rey by merging two smaller gangs around seven years ago, which is why the RMS/EBK has been referred to as a “local hybrid gang” in the press release.

A search of the ring leader’s residence during the investigation turned up a cache of weapons and ammunition and a considerable amount of cash, in addition to an array of other objects.

“On Wednesday, July 31, an Orange County grand jury returned a 37-count indictment against 11 defendants involved in the local hybrid gang Respect, Money Structure/Everybody Killer, also known as RMS/EBK. The group is defined as a criminal gang under Florida statute 874.03,” the press release stated.

Rivard, 28, Maldonado, 20, and Falzone, 21, have been charged with murder in connection to the deaths of Carlos Peña, Samuel Frederick, and Noah Polanco due to fentanyl overdoses between December 2022 and September 2023.

Speaking to reporters , Assistant State Attorney Anne Wedge-McMillen, the lead prosecutor in the case against the 11 suspects, said, “Not a single person here knew they were buying fentanyl, and not a single person here had a desire to die.”

State Attorney Bain also shared a statement to the reporters, per the press release, saying:

“The grand jury returning a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) indictment is significant because RICO laws allow us to dismantle criminal organizations by targeting the individual crimes and the entire structure that supports and perpetuates them.”

“We can hold those directly involved accountable, pursue harsher penalties through sentencing, and disrupt the networks fueling these illegal activities that harm our community.”

“We could not have secured this indictment without the dedicated, meticulous work of OPD’s drug enforcement division and the OCSO narcotics team. Their extensive training and experience allowed us to organize the evidence and show the continuity of criminal activity which is especially important in RICO cases,” Bain further said , thanking the investigators for their endeavors.