ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando man has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after police say he delivered fatal doses of fentanyl to three unsuspecting men.
Jose Alberto Gonzalez-Delgado, 27, has also been charged with sale or delivery of a controlled substance.
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Police say the three victims were found dead in an apartment on Curry Ford Road back on Nov. 29.
The Orlando Police Department assigned its Special Overdose Investigative Unit to the case.
After interviewing witnesses to the drug deal and reviewing surveillance video from a local bar where it took place, OIU detectives quickly identified Gonzalez-Delgado as the person responsible for delivering the fentanyl to the victims.
Investigators said one of the victims purchased what he thought was cocaine from Gonzalez-Delgado. According to a witness, Gonzalez-Delgado was out of that drug but still wanted to make money.
“So he sold them what he still had on him, which was fentanyl,” Lt. Mike Lanfersiek said. “Jose Gonzalez told the witness that they would never know the difference and unfortunately this was proven to be deadly wrong.”
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When interviewed by investigators, police say Gonzalez-Delgado only admitted to selling $100 dollars of cocaine to one of the victims.
Gonzalez-Delgado was booked into the Orange County jail on Dec. 9. He’s being held there on no bond.
He’s the fifth suspect rounded up through OPD’s “Operation Good Call” who is now facing murder charges for selling a drug that took someone’s life.
According to the Orlando Police Department, their overdose investigative unit has been responsible for the arrests of 69 drug dealers, most of whom were selling fentanyl.
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Experts say fentanyl has been driving opioid deaths recently in Central Florida. According to Project Opioid, up to 90% of overdoses are caused by the drug, typically with people who think they’re ingesting another substance.
“If you ever need more motivation to seek help, to get help, to seek services, the time is now,” Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell said. “Because the next high could be your last.”
OPD recognizes a detective in the Overdose Investigative Unit as Distinguished Officer of the Year for 2020TOPS IN 2020: Even if you don't know Detective Gonzalez, you may have seen his work in the news, when his unit's investigation resulted in the department's first successful murder indictment for a dealer linked to a fentanyl overdose at the end of October 2020. Detective Gonzalez is on the front lines fighting to keep drugs out of your neighborhoods, and for that exceptional service, he was recognized as the Distinguished Officer of the Year for 2020. See the other officers & citizens recognized for exception service in our First Quarter Award Ceremony here: https://fb.watch/4fevt-bQgm/
Posted by Orlando Police Department on Monday, March 15, 2021
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