According to Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, they did the RICO.
Two suspected darkweb vendors have been arrested after an extensive investigation led by Florida law enforcement. The suspects were allegedly producing counterfeit Xanax pills and distributing them to customers around the United States using the darkweb.
The suspects are Benjamin Burdick and Catilynkyrie Burdick of Inverness, Florida, who were both arrested on an assortment of drug trafficking charges, drug possession charges, and a racketeering charge. According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the suspects produced counterfeit Xanax pills and sold the pills on darkweb marketplaces.
The investigation began in 2019 and it involved six branches of law enforcement at local and federal levels, they are:
- the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO);
- the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS);
- the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI);
- the Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
- and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
In the course of the investigation, undercover transactions were made by law enforcement on a darkweb marketplace. Investigators purchased counterfeit Xanax pills from the suspects’ vendor account on a darkweb market. Delivery of the pills resulted in a search warrant for the Burdick’s house in Inverness.
According to Sheriff Prendergast, “Our joint investigation started in June of 2019 … The successful outcome of this investigation is a prime example of the effective working relationships we have with our federal and local partners. Our office will continue to leverage these beneficial partnerships to further protect our citizens and rid our community of dangerous drug dealers such as these individuals.”
Executing the search warrant, law enforcement officers located:
- USPS shipping boxes;
- pill binder mixer;
- USPS mail envelopes;
- an Accupost scale;
- a pill press;
- vacuum sealer and bags;
- 16,000 counterfeit Xanax pills (net. weight 15 lbs.) prepackage in various sizes and bags;
- a bag containing 5 kilograms of pill binder;
- a digital scale with several cups and bowls that contained a white powdery residue;
- numerous Ziploc and vacuum-sealed bags containing counterfeit Xanax pills and white pills stamped with G7322;
- $143,095 in US currency;
- several firearms.
Xanax Vendor Arrested
These are the charges Catilynkyrie Burdick, was arrested on:
- The possession of a controlled substance analog;
- The possession and/or distribute an imitation controlled substance.
- selling, manufacturing, or delivery, or possession with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a counterfeit controlled substance.
- The distribution of medical drugs through an internet pharmacy without a permit.
- The possession of a controlled substance (Cocaine).
- The possession of a controlled substance (THC wax).
- The possession of a controlled substance Marijuana (over 20 grams).
- selling, manufacturing, delivery, or possession with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a controlled substance in a structure or conveyance where any child under 16 years of age is present, to wit: did manufacture counterfeit Xanax in the home.
- scheme to defraud and obtains property that has an aggregate value of $50,000.00 or more, to wit: used counterfeit driver license to rent USPS P.O. Box.
- receive any proceeds derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of racketeering activity, to wit: racketeering activity is defined as crimes involving contraband adulterated or misbranded drugs, to wit: counterfeit Xanax.
- possession with the intent to use, or did unlawfully use, an object intended or designed for use in storing, concealing or injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body, a controlled substance, to wit: bowls, strainers, pill press, baggies, packaging material, punches and die tools and scales.
Benjamin Burdick was arrested on the following charges:
- The possession of a controlled substance analog (Etizolam);
- The Possession and/or distribute an imitation controlled substance (Etizolam);
- selling, manufacturing, or delivery, or possession with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a counterfeit controlled substance (Xanax/Alprazolam).
- The distribution of medical drugs through an internet pharmacy without a permit (Flualprazolam).
- The possession of a controlled substance (Cocaine);
- The possession of a controlled substance (Steroids);
- The possession of a controlled substance (THC wax;The possession of a controlled substance Marijuana (over 20 grams);
- possess any blank, forged, stolen, fictitious, counterfeit, or unlawfully issued driver’s license or identification card;
- sell, manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a controlled substance, to wit: did manufacture counterfeit Xanax in the home;
- scheme to defraud and obtains property that has an aggregate value of $50,000.00 or more, to wit: used counterfeit driver license to rent USPS P.O. Box;
- receive any proceeds derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of racketeering activity, to wit: racketeering activity is defined as crimes involving contraband adulterated or misbranded drugs, to wit: counterfeit Xanax;
- possession with the intent to use, or did unlawfully use, an object intended or designed for use in storing, concealing or injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body, a controlled substance, to wit: bowls, strainers, pill press, baggies, packaging material, punches and die tools and scales.
Both suspects are being held in the Citrus County Detention Facility without bond.