TALLAHASSEE — Attorney General James Uthmeier announced racketeering and drug trafficking charges against six defendants accused of running a criminal enterprise that distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine, multiple pounds of marijuana, prescription pills and other narcotics across Broward County and surrounding areas of South Florida.
“This joint investigation dismantled a criminal enterprise that pumped dangerous drugs into Florida communities,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “Through the tireless work of the Office of Statewide Prosecution and our great law enforcement partners, we are taking on more criminal prosecutions than ever before.”
Isaac Lakeith Bruton and Omar Dwayne Cooper each face charges of racketeering under F.S. 895.03(3), conspiracy to commit racketeering under F.S. 895.03(4) — both first-degree felonies — and money laundering under F.S. 896.101 and 777.01, a third-degree felony. If convicted, Bruton and Cooper each face up to 75 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. Wayne Morgan Brutton Jr., Wayne Morgan Brutton Sr., Rene Danger Jr. and Cleon Fabian Reid are each charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering and face up to 60 years.
The investigation, led by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Organized Crime Unit and the Office of Statewide Prosecution with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, revealed that the enterprise converted powdered cocaine into crack cocaine at or near distribution locations and used vehicles with hidden compartments to transport narcotics.
Investigators found that Bruton and Cooper laundered drug proceeds by purchasing vehicles, real estate, investing in business ventures, restoring classic cars and buying jewelry.
Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Jillian Tate and Nicholas Kaleel will prosecute the case in state court.