PRESS RELEASE
Venice Police Department
Venice, Florida
On Friday, Aug. 1, detectives from the Venice Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit, in coordination with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the North Port Police Department, conducted an operation at Hotel Venezia, 425 U.S. 41 Bypass North. The operation was initiated in response to intelligence regarding drug use and criminal activity associated with “Season 4,” a 24-hour electronic dance music festival that began Thursday, July 31 and ran through Sunday afternoon, Aug. 3.
The joint effort resulted in multiple arrests related to undercover narcotics transactions and open-air drug use observed both inside the hotel and in the surrounding parking area. The operation led to the arrest of six individuals from Southwest Florida on 17 drug charges and the seizure of 18.5 grams of MDMA, 26.7 grams of cocaine, 5.1 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 0.2 grams of LSD, and 6 grams of ketamine.
The following individuals have been arrested as a result of the operation:
1) Joseph M. Smith, DOB 6/15/92 of Venice
• Possession of cocaine with intent to sell
• Possession of ketamine with intent to sell
• Possession of psilocybin with intent to sell
• Possession of MDMA with intent to sell
2) Alexa A. Cicolini, DOB 1/24/96 of Orlando
• Possession of cocaine with intent to sell
• Possession of ketamine with intent to sell
• Possession of psilocybin with intent to sell
• Possession of MDMA with intent to sell
3) Richard A. Martin, DOB 8/23/91 of Clearwater
• Sale of MDMA
• Possession of cocaine
4) Kosmia G. Bassil, DOB 9/28/98 of Safety Harbor
• Sale of MDMA
5) Joseph A. Matz, DOB 10/29/96 of Orlando
• Sale of cocaine
• Possession of MDMA
6) Kenneth B. Gibbs, DOB 6/24/96 of Orlando
• Sale of MDMA
• Possession of cocaine
• Possession of MDMA