21-129 Narcotics Detectives Arrest Four Suspects on Trafficking Charges at a Hotel in Clearwater
Narcotics Investigation
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Narcotics Division
Travis Nicotera (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 08/20/1985
Address: 3629 37th Street North, St. Petersburg
Charges: Trafficking in Methamphetamine
Brandon Pagels (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 12/31/1991
Address: 275 116th Avenue, Unit 102, Treasure Island
Charges: Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl, Two (2) counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance
Jessica Mccarty (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 08/06/1999
Address: 2680 Walnut Drive, Palm Harbor
Charges: Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl, Armed Trafficking in MDMA, Six (6) counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, VOP warrant for Grand Theft
Cory Jones (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 08/11/1991
Address: 8350 53rd Way north, Pinellas Park
Charge: Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl, Armed Trafficking in MDMA, Eight (8) counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, FTA warrant for Sale of a Counterfeit Drug, FTA warrant for Possession of Synthetic Cannabinoid
PINELLAS COUNTY - On November 22, 2021, detectives from the Narcotics Division received information regarding a large amount of methamphetamine being delivered to drug traffickers at WoodSpring Suites located at 15672 U.S. Highway 19 North in Clearwater.
Through various investigative techniques, detectives identified, 36-year-old Travis Nicotera, 29-year-old Brandon Pagels, 22-year-old Jessica Mccarty, and 30-year-old Cory Jones as having involvement in the narcotic delivery and being inside a room at the hotel. The suspects were known to detectives as drug traffickers, being in possession of firearms, and also having multiple warrants.
Detectives advised the four suspects were taken into custody when they exited the hotel room.
Detectives located the following items within the hotel room:
- 1,042 grams of crystal methamphetamine (Kilogram)
- 126 grams of fentanyl
- 736 grams of marijuana
- 17 fentanyl patches
- 24 buprenorphine patches
- 37 grams of MDMA
- 25 doses of buprenorphine
- 10 doses of oxycodone
- $5,752 in United States currency
- Drug ledgers
- Smith & Wesson .38 special
- Kimber 9MM (Stolen)
- Ruger P94 40 caliber
- Sig Sauer SP2022
- Beretta M9 9MM
- Walther CCP 9MM
- Ruger LC9 9MM
Detectives found Pagels to be in possession of the following items:
- 166 grams of crystal methamphetamine
- 130 grams of fentanyl
- 1 gram of crack cocaine
- 443 grams of marijuana
- Smith & Wesson .38 special
Through the investigation, it was discovered that Nicotera had $19,411 in his possession and Mccarty was in possession of $5,752 in United States currency which they admitted to obtaining through illegal drug proceeds.
Detectives also learned Mccarty had further drug proceeds at a separate location and they were able to seize an additional $60,716 in United States currency.
According to detectives, Nicotera was charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine. Pagels was charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl, and Two (2) counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Mccarty was charged with Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl, Armed Trafficking in MDMA, Six (6) counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and a VOP warrant for Grand Theft. Jones was charges with Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl, Armed Trafficking in MDMA, Eight (8) counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, FTA warrant for Sale of a Counterfeit Drug, and a FTA warrant for Possession of Synthetic Cannabinoid.
The four suspects were transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.
The investigation continues.
Jones: McCarty:
Nicotera: Pagels:
