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Ivey described the alleged drug operation as “‘Breaking Bad’ on steroids,” referencing the hit AMC TV show.<\/p>\n
Horvath was arrested on several weapons charges. Law enforcement found 38 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, a Dec. 3 charging affidavit said. The guns were located throughout the warehouse on tables and hidden under tarps.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Authorities also found five IEDs, grenade simulators, automatic weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and several pieces of equipment, officials said.<\/p>\n
On Feb. 17, Horvath pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. This conviction carries a maximum sentence of 15 years and up to three years of supervised release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to the plea agreement, Horvath faces no further charges.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Previous drug conviction <\/p>\n
In 2019, Horvath pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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What is Kratom and 7-OH? <\/p>\n
Horvath was also under suspicion of producing and distributing a derivative of Kratom, also known as 7-OH, which is illegal in Florida, Sheriff Ivey said. Officials estimated the value of the alleged illegal substance found at a Palm Bay building equates to as much as $4.7 million.<\/p>\n
7-OH is derived from a plant and works to bind opioid receptors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“When that\u2019s compressed and put into a pill form, it\u2019s 13 times more powerful than morphine,” Ivey said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier classified 7-OH as a Schedule 1 controlled substance under Florida law. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The FDA said this drug is dangerous because consumers can easily purchase products with concentrated levels of 7-OH online and in gas stations, corner stores and vape shops<\/a>. It’s also being marketed to children and teens by being put into fruit-flavored gummies and ice cream cones, the FDA said.\u00a0<\/p>\n This arrest comes a day after the FDA and U.S. Department of Justice announced a joint effort to target illegal products containing 7-hydroxymitragine<\/a>. 73,000 units of product were seized at three warehouses in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n What’s next:<\/p>\n Horvath’s sentencing is scheduled for June 10 at 9:30 a.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Source: Information in this story was gathered from court documents filed in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida Orlando Division.\u00a0<\/p>\n