News from Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office
A six month long, multi-jurisdictional narcotics investigation has resulted in the multiple arrests, the execution of several search warrants, and the seizure of significant quantities of illegal drugs and firearms.
The investigation was conducted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division and the Florida Statewide Prosecutor (Office of the Attorney General) with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Palm Beach Police Department.
The operation began in April of 2025 after investigators identified a drug trafficking network responsible for distributing Fentanyl with horse Tranquilizer, Methamphetamine, Cocaine and MDMA throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Okeechobee, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River County, FL and Suffolk County, VA.
On Sept. 30, 2025, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple locations identified through this investigation resulting in the arrest of 6 individuals connected to the operation
During the searches, investigators seized approximately:
• 1 Kilogram Cocaine
• 334 grams Fentanyl
• 1 Bottle of Xylazine (horse tranqulizer)
• 94.1 grams Crack Cocaine
• 100g Psilobyn
• 29g Marijuana
• 464g Methamphetamine
• 232g Testosterone
• 9g Alprazolam
• 471 Pharmaceutical pills (suspected controlled substances)
• 6 Handguns / 12 AR Style rifles
The following Individuals were arrested and charged:
Gary Devon West, 52, was charged with:
• Conspiracy to commit racketeering,
• Trafficking in fentanyl,
• Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine 28-200g,
• Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine 28g-200g,
• Trafficking in methamphetamine 14-28g,
• Delivery of fentanyl,
• Delivery of methamphetamine,
• Delivery of methamphetamine,
• Delivery of fentanyl,
• Possession with intent to deliver fentanyl,
• Conspiracy to delivery of methamphetamine,
• Conspiracy to delivery of fentanyl, and,
• Unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Darryl Butler “Unc”, 52, was charged with:
• Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, and
• Unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Andres Chaves was charged with:
• Conspiracy to deliver Fentanyl,
• Delivery of Fentanyl, and.
• Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
James Thiele was charged with:
• Traffic in Methamphetamine 14grams or more, and
• Unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Robert Townsend, 51, of Okeechobee was charged with:
• Traffic Methamphetamine 14 grams or more,
• Delivery of Schedule 2 controlled substance, and,
• Unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
