IRCSO, DEA arrest 2 in drug selling operation; overdose death investigated
Corey ArwoodINDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The death of a 37-year-old man in a suspected fentanyl mix-up led to the arrest of a 24-year-old Fort Pierce woman who detectives said dropped baggies of narcotics in stores and restaurants, according to reports from a Sheriff’s Office and DEA investigation.
Niyah Hewitt, 24, of the 2700 block of Booker Street, and Alfonso Guerrero, 35, each were charged May 18 with trafficking a controlled substance; two counts of sale, delivery or possession with intent to sell or deliver; possession of a controlled substance without a prescription; and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
The affidavits show detectives were told in interviews after the arrests that Hewitt arranged deals by placing the drugs somewhere in a public area like a store or restaurant and having an intermediary, reportedly Guerrero, pick them up and take them to a buyer.
Called a “dead-drop,” detectives were told the transactions were common practice by Hewitt to avoid being caught, according to arrest records.
Businesses in or near Vero Beach, including a Sonic, a Walmart, a Dollar Tree, a Dollar General and a Dunkin Donuts were among the noted drug activity locations in the reports.
Prior to the May 16 fatal drug deal, Guerrero told detectives he bought fentanyl from Hewitt which he said she hid inside a gift bag in a discount store off Oslo Road, according to the report.
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Guerrero told detectives he intended to sell the 37-year-old man Molly that day, because he said the man had to take court-ordered drug tests which would show fentanyl use.
According to the report, Guerrero said he “may have mixed the bags up” with the fentanyl he purchased from Hewitt.
The Indian River County man was found dead in a bathroom in a family home off 25th Street Southwest with what deputies said were narcotics paraphernalia found in the sink.
What detectives said was a “drug-related conversation” between the man and Guerrero was found on the man's cellphone. Minutes after the conversation, home surveillance footage showed the two sitting on the home’s front porch, according to the affidavit.
The footage shows Guerrero take a small baggie containing white powder from his pocket, pour some of the powder on tinfoil and hand it to the man, who put the folded foil in his pocket.
Roughly 90 minutes later, deputies were called to the address for an overdose and found the man in the bathroom.
Two days later detectives working on the overdose death case began monitoring Guerrero, and his interactions with Hewitt.
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After reviewing security footage from a Vero Beach fast-food restaurant, authorities said it showed Hewitt enter the women’s restroom and exit while Guerrero was seen doing the same roughly 10 minutes later. Both were later arrested.
Hewitt, who also has a listed Palm Bay address, was also charged with leasing or renting a property in order to traffic a controlled substance.
She was released on $170,00 bail May 20, and Sheriff’s Office records show Guerrero remains jailed on $220,000 bail.
Agency officials said the investigation will continue while they await results of the medical examiner's tests on the man who died.
Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.
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