Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd used a press conference on Friday to highlight the deadly consequences of drug trafficking, displaying a $50,000 gold chain and bracelet seized from an alleged Florida drug ring, as reported by The New York Post.

The jewelry, he said, symbolized the lives destroyed by the organization’s operations.

The year-long investigation led to the arrests of Nathaniel “Nate” Donald and 31 others accused of running a narcotics network responsible for distributing marijuana, fentanyl, crack cocaine, MDMA, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and ketamine across central Florida.

According to Judd, the organization’s criminal activity generated “millions” of dollars.

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“She was walking out of her house to church when she collapsed, so she died, so Nate could have this drip,” Judd said, referring to an elderly woman who overdosed. “Did you hear what I said? He’s buying this drip from selling drugs to people on the streets, one of which died.”

Judd alleged that one member of the ring, Troy Cortez Walker, has been charged with murder in connection to the overdose death last September.

Investigators linked the network to multiple overdoses and said they tracked its financial activities through suspicious wire transfers, including one Donald allegedly used to purchase the $50,000 chain.

“I got their drip. I got their money. We got their guns. We got their dope,” Judd said, wearing the chain while standing beside evidence tables stacked with confiscated drugs and firearms.

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“Where you see $50,000 in drip, where you see that ‘not-so-dangerous’ drug of cannabis, you see guns and you see first-degree murder from overdose. I am over it.”

Judd said the investigation resulted in the recovery of about $150,000 in narcotics and several firearms, some of which were in the possession of convicted felons. The group’s collective criminal history included 554 felony convictions and 394 misdemeanors.

“I am over it when people tell you that drugs are low-level and non-violent,” Judd added, brandishing two seized pistols during the press conference.

“They’re a menace to society. They’ve got to stay in prison, or people die. Whoever tells you that narcotics is low level and non violent — they’re crazy.”

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The case underscores the ongoing drug crisis in Florida, where law enforcement officials continue to tie overdose deaths to organized trafficking operations moving drugs throughout the state.

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