Florida Officials Detail ‘Sex, Money, Murder’ Gang Probe: Drugs, Guns, and a Planned Killing
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Florida law enforcement officials on Monday laid out the scope of a sprawling, multi-year racketeering investigation into the so-called “Sex, Money, Murder” gang, an operation authorities say involved drug trafficking, illegal firearms, and a planned homicide spanning multiple jurisdictions. At a joint news conference, Grady Judd, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, and representatives from the Statewide Prosecutor’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Corrections, and the Florida Gang Investigators Association detailed evidence collected during the investigation, which began in 2021. Authorities confirmed that six search warrants were executed as part of the case, resulting in the seizure of more than $1.5 million worth of illegal drugs, at least 16 firearms, and evidence tied to an alleged planned murder.
A Long-Running Investigation With Statewide Reach
The investigation first became public on April 13, 2022, when officials announced the results of a year-long statewide probe into the gang’s activities. That operation led to more than 160 criminal charges filed against 41 suspects, many of them facing racketeering counts with gang-related sentence enhancements. According to law enforcement, the gang’s footprint extended well beyond Polk County, operating across Florida and into other states, with Central Florida serving as a key hub for trafficking and coordination. In a prior briefing, FDLE Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell described the organization bluntly:
“It has been a thorn in the side of the Central Florida community for years.”
Drugs, Guns, and Cash
Officials said the scope of the seizures underscores the scale of the operation. During the 2022 takedown, investigators confiscated more than $1.5 million in narcotics, 18 firearms, and $17,514 in cash. Monday’s briefing clarified that additional firearms and evidence uncovered through later search warrants are now central to new charges, including allegations tied to a planned killing. Sheriff Judd emphasized that the investigation was built over years, combining intelligence gathering, surveillance, and coordinated action between local, state, and corrections officials.
What Comes Next
Prosecutors indicated that the case remains active, with defendants moving through the court system and additional evidence still under review. Racketeering cases of this size often take years to fully resolve, particularly when they involve multi-state activity and overlapping criminal conspiracies. For Central Florida, officials framed the case as a warning and a message.
“This is what happens when you bring organized violence, drugs, and exploitation into our communities,” Judd said. “We will dismantle it piece by piece.”
