BOYNTON BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT Jeffrey S. Katz, Interim Chief of Police
Office of Media Relations 561.742.6191
For immediate release August 6, 2013
100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. Boynton Beach, FL 33425 www.bbpd.org Contact: Stephanie Slater, Public Information Officer slaters@bbfl.us 561.436.4806
Boynton Beach Police Agent honored for work in combating drug distribution Last year, 16 members of a drug trafficking organization were sent to federal prison on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. A 13-month federal investigation revealed that these drug dealers were importing heroin from Colombia and distributing the drugs on the streets of Boynton Beach. Last week, the Florida Narcotics Officers Association publicly thanked Boynton Beach Police Agent Jon Kautz for his diligence and dedication to combating the illegal distribution of narcotics in South Florida. Kautz is an undercover officer assigned to a task force with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He has worked for the Boynton Beach Police Department since May 2000. In January 2011, he began an investigation into a local heroin dealer who was distributing large amounts of heroin in the City of Boynton Beach. He conducted undercover heroin and/or cocaine transactions with numerous drug dealers, all of them considered extremely violent career criminals. Upon realizing the enormity of this drug trafficking organization, Kautz contacted the DEA and presented the case to them. The DEA agreed to assist and the U.S. Attorney’s Office agreed to prosecute those involved in the organization on federal charges. The investigation, formerly titled Operation Jalapeno Chicken, lasted approximately 13 months and culminated in a Title 3 Wire Intercept investigation, commonly referred to as a “wire tap.” Several cell phones utilized by members of the drug trafficking organization were monitored, including a “Customer Service” line. This telephone was specifically used for customers to voice complaints about the product and/or issues they were having during transactions. Someone answered the phone saying, “Customer Service,” and if buyers were having an issue with specific dealers, the “customer service representative” would organize them to make future transactions with a different runner. During the investigation, agents identified methods by which the organization was importing the heroin from Colombia. With Kautz’s help, the DEA traced a bag of heroin that was being distributed on the streets of Boynton Beach to the source country of Colombia. On March 14, 2012, Agents from the DEA, in conjunction with agents from the Boynton Beach and Delray Beach Police Departments, arrested 16 members of the drug trafficking organization on federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. The arrests resulted in the seizure of nine firearms, including assault style weapons and $87,000. A large amount of heroin and cocaine were also seized during the search
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BOYNTON BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT Jeffrey S. Katz, Interim Chief of Police
Office of Media Relations 561.742.6191
100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. Boynton Beach, FL 33425 www.bbpd.org
warrants. All offenders in the case pled guilty and were sentenced between 3-18 years in federal prison. "We are very proud of Agent Kautz's drive and work ethic,” Boynton Beach Police Chief Jeffrey S. Katz said. “We are also thankful for the strong working relationships we share with the other agencies involved. This operation serves as an excellent example of the positive work that can be accomplished when talented law enforcement personnel work together in pursuit of a common objective."
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