Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
- Investigative Operations Bureau
- Narcotics Unit  

Arrested:
Anthony E. Walker
DOB: 9/29/1969
Address: 55 Jasper Street, Largo

Charges:
Two Counts Trafficking in Morphine
One Count Trafficking in Hydromorphone

What:
Detectives have arrested Anthony E. Walker for Two Counts Trafficking in Morphine and One Count Trafficking in Hydromorphone.

Where:
Walker was arrested at his residence, 55 Jasper Street, Largo.

When:
Walker was arrested Tuesday January 6, 2015 at 10:04PM.

How/Why:
On December 5, 2014 undercover Detectives conducted a deal set up by a confidential informant; the Detective purchased 35 Morphine pills for $1000.00 from a female. Once the deal was complete the Detective tested the Morphine and it turned out to be a muscle relaxer. The Detective immediately went out and arrested the female dealer for selling counterfeit drugs.

During a post arrest interview the female explained to detectives she received the drugs from Anthony Walker, the Detectives’ confidential informant, and she had no knowledge of them being counterfeit. Detectives immediately began investigating Walker’s previous deals.

Through various investigative techniques they were able to link Walker to 16 current cases in which he set up deals involving cocaine, crack cocaine, Morphine and other pharmaceuticals. The related persons in these cases were not physically arrested and all cases will be closed.

During the interview with Detectives after his arrest, Walker admitted to setting up fake deals on November 6, 2014, November 9, 2014 and December 5, 2014.

“It shows the challenges of working with informants. It also shows, here, that we have the right checks and balances and protocols in place because we caught it and when we caught it we did the right thing” said Sheriff Bob Gualtieri during today’s press conference.   

Walker was a confidential informant for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office from October 2013 through December 2014 and was paid $7260.00 for providing information and conducting transactions.

Walker was arrested Tuesday January 6, 2015 at 10:04 p.m. and charged with Two Counts Trafficking in Morphine and One Count Trafficking in Hydromorphone.

The investigation continues. 

Anthony E. Walker