Investigators accuse owners of Orange County convenience stores of racketeering, money laundering
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
Three people are facing multiple felony charges after investigators accused them of selling prescription drugs over the counter and running illegal gambling operations through Guatemalan convenience stores.
Bernave Lopez-Perez, Debora Lopez-Perez and Maria Lopez-Perez face charges of racketeering, money laundering, and scheme to defraud, among others.
They appeared before a judge this week. Each of their bonds was set at more than $100,000.
This started last October. In a warrant obtained by WESH 2 News, the Apopka Police Department first got an anonymous report that prescription antibiotics were being sold behind the counter at both locations of Tienda Guatemala in Apopka. This complaint was then forwarded to the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.
Over eight months of investigating, MBI agents said employees sold them products such as amoxicillin, ampicillin and ibuprofen 800 mg — all without prescriptions. In the report, investigators also described rooms in these stores used for illegal gambling.
MBI identified an Ocoee business, Tienda Mi Guatemex Supermarket, as being associated with Tienda Guatemala in connection to this case.
MBI concluded the three suspects “knowingly and intentionally engaged in an ongoing, organized course of conduct designed to obtain property and financial benefit through false and fraudulent pretenses.”
On Wednesday, WESH 2 stopped by one Tienda Guatemala location. A woman, who asked not to show her face or share her name, said she’s the partner of one of the defendants. In Spanish, she said what’s being said are accusations. She hopes in the end everything will be resolved.
In a statement emailed to WESH 2, Miguel Gonzalez Jr., the attorney representing the three defendants, emphasized this case “does not involve” allegations of street-level narcotics or illicit controlled substances.
“The allegations concern antibiotics that investigators contend were sold without a license or authorizations required by law,” he said. “Additionally, law enforcement seized a substantial amount of cash during the investigation. After reviewing the evidence, the state has agreed to return $52,000 because it was demonstrated to be legitimate money.”
As of Wednesday, WESH 2 was told by MBI that it would not be available to discuss the arrests due to “ongoing investigations.”