The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested five people on drug charges following two undercover drug investigations that yielded trafficking amounts of MDMA, LSD, and prescription pills.
After developing information that a package containing MDMA would be delivered June 20 to a home in the 2700 block of Galleon Drive in Sarasota, detectives began surveillance in the area. Once the package was delivered, detectives executed a search warrant on the home which revealed more than 1,000 MDMA pills. Through investigation, detectives identified Steven Purcell, DOB 03/26/88, as the man responsible for having the package delivered. When Purcell retrieved the package, he and passenger Derek Oelschlager, DOB 05/14/90, were taken into custody.
Detectives conducted a subsequent investigation June 27 into another controlled delivery of MDMA scheduled to be delivered to a home in the 3200 block of Hart Way in Sarasota. Upon execution of a search warrant, detectives recovered nearly 2,000 MDMA pills, 40 Xanax pills, LSD, and $5,300 in cash. Through investigation, detectives identified Richard Barclay, DOB 09/22/92, as the man responsible for having the package delivered. As Barclay was taken into custody, detectives also arrested his roommates Joshua Weber, DOB 05/15/93, and Neolani Zwiercan, DOB 12/17/96.
Purcell and Oelschlager are both charged with a single count of Trafficking in MDMA. Purcell was released Wednesday on $100,000 bond. Oelschlager remains in custody on $100,000 bond.
Barclay is charged with a single count of Trafficking in MDMA and was released Thursday on $30,000 bond. Weber faces charges of Trafficking in LSD, Trafficking in MDMA, and Possession of Alprazolam. He remains in custody today on $31,500 bond. Zwiercan is charged with a single count of Possession of Alprazolam and was released Wednesday on $1,500 bond
The total estimated street value of the seized drugs amounts to more than $45,000. Both investigations were conducted in partnership with officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Postal Inspector’s Office.