The suspect, identified as 65-year-old Bradford Todd Picariello, was taken into custody on January 19, as announced by the sheriff’s office through a social media update. The operation, designed to catch Picariello in the act, led to his arrest following the alleged transaction.

Authorities claim that Picariello attempted to sell a kilogram of cocaine for $10,000. During the sting operation, which was carefully orchestrated by law enforcement, he reportedly instructed an undercover source to bring a cooler to the exchange to give the impression they were picking up fish. Additionally, he hinted at the availability of another “100 pounds” of cocaine for future sales, according to details from the arrest report cited by USA Today.

Officials allege that he sold a kilogram of cocaine for $10,000. But the sheriff’s office said the drug sale was actually an undercover operation that resulted in Picariello’s arrest. 

USA Today, citing an arrest report with details about the incident, reported that Picariello told a law enforcement source to bring a cooler to the drug sale to “make it look as though he was getting fish,” and said he had an additional “100 pounds” of cocaine that could also be purchased in the future. 

“Approximately 23 kilograms were seized altogether, along with $8,000 in cash, and a 38-foot vessel,” the sheriff’s office said in their statement. “A .40-caliber handgun was also seized.”

Twenty-three kilograms is equivalent to around 50 pounds. 

Picariello was charged with trafficking, possessing and selling cocaine. He is expected to be prosecuted federally, the sheriff’s office said. He is from Marathon, a city in the Florida Keys with a population of around 10,000. It’s unclear where Picariello was arrested.