The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office announced the conclusion of a major drug operation on Wednesday afternoon. At a press conference held in the Main Training Room of the Emergency Operations Center, Sheriff Al Nienhuis revealed that deputies retrieved enough narcotics with the potential “if it is uncut, to kill about a quarter of a million people.”
This dizzyingly large drug bust saw the HCSO recover roughly 400 grams of cocaine, 457 grams of methamphetamine, 442 grams of fentanyl,15-20 grams of marijuana and THC edibles, and a fentanyl press out of Freedom Gardens, Apartment 214. $125,360 in cash was also found on the premises.
“This is probably one of the bigger ones that Hernando County has seen in a while,” Lieutenant Brandon Cox noted.
Four individuals were arrested in relation to the case. Suspects Desnik Williams (age 46) and Markesha Frazier (age 41), who live in the federally subsidized apartment, apparently received the lion’s share of the charges.
Williams is charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance with an intent to distribute, possession of a structure for the sale of a controlled substance, and possession of hashish. If convicted, Williams is facing a minimum sentence of life in prison for just a fraction of the offenses.
Frazier is similarly charged with all of the above, and she has no bond. Andres Owens, who was discovered on the premises, was charged with various misdemeanors. No evidence was found, and authorities do not believe that he was involved in the trafficking of the deadly narcotics.
The timeline of the operation began last year following “a handful of overdose deaths that occurred very close together” in May, Sheriff Nienhuis stated. Lieutenant Cox added that the tips regarding the case came in around the end of May to early June.
In the process, authorities had been informed that these illegal substances were being distributed by a single supplier. The citizens who fell victim to these drugs believed they were consuming cocaine. Instead, they were either ingesting fentanyl or cocaine laced with fentanyl.
Considering how difficult it can be to acquire court-admissible evidence in such cases, the sheriff’s office worked hard to put together an ironclad case against the alleged perpetrators. For months, deputies struggled to collect the necessary information.
Then, on Tuesday, February 11, a major development occurred when investigators witnessed a “hand-to-hand drug deal” between Howard Blount (age 49) and a resident of the apartment complex.
Authorities promptly followed and conducted a traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle. It was here where they found 43.2 grams of fentanyl. The suspect was charged with trafficking in fentanyl and his current bond is set at $25,000.
Understanding the severity of his crime and the accompanying punishment, Blount complied with the deputy’s investigation. The suspect divulged that he had been supplied with the drugs by Mr. Williams, who was noted as having a prior criminal record, according to Sheriff Nienhuis.
After receiving a warrant from a judge, the Vice and Narcotics Unit executed the operation later that afternoon. Upon raiding Apartment 214, deputies found the remainder of the mass quantities of illicit materials.
A representative from the state attorney’s office noted that they filed a Nebbia motion against Williams and company early on Wednesday. If any of the co-defendants are able to make bond, they will be required to provide proof that the funds they use for payment of the bond were acquired through legitimate means.
Commissioners Jerry Campbell and Brian Hawkins were on hand for the announcement and both issued statements towards the end of Wednesday’s press conference and thanked the deputies for their tireless efforts.
“Our kids, our families are under attack,” said Campbell. “That is why the men and women of the sheriff’s office have my unwavering support […] To the bad guys that are dealing drugs in Hernando County, I can promise you that our Vice and Narcotics Unit […] will pay you a visit very soon.”
![Sheriff Al Nienhuis talks details of the narcotics bust at Wednesday's press conference. [Austyn Szempruch]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250212_161934-scaled.jpg)
