A Thursday morning SWAT raid in Groveland ended a months-long narcotics investigation with one man arrested and an alleged stash of drugs, guns, ammunition and body armor removed from a Hidden Pointe Lane home. Investigators say the case began with community complaints and Crimeline tips, then culminated in a coordinated search involving several Lake County law enforcement agencies.
According to Tampa Free Press, detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Bureau and the Groveland Police Department obtained a warrant for the residence on July 30. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team secured the scene while officers from Clermont, Eustis, Groveland and Leesburg helped search the home.
The search allegedly turned up a trafficking quantity of methamphetamine, pre-packaged cocaine and crack cocaine, fentanyl, drug paraphernalia and ammunition. Investigators also reported finding six firearms — two rifles, three shotguns and one pistol — along with body armor inside the bedroom identified as belonging to the suspect.
Groveland Raid Follows Another Multi-Agency Drug Bust
The latest operation comes just weeks after another Groveland narcotics raid involving many of the same agencies. In that earlier case, a June Groveland bust led to a cocaine-trafficking arrest after investigators said they found cocaine, crack, paraphernalia and a firearm at a Blue Street duplex.
Authorities identified the suspect in Thursday’s case as 40-year-old Jason Allen Krueger. He was detained at the scene and later booked into the Lake County Jail on allegations including armed trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the Tampa Free Press report.
Charges Include Firearm And Body Armor Allegations
Florida law separately prohibits a convicted felon from possessing a firearm or ammunition, as outlined in Florida Statute 790.23. Prosecutors also cited possession of a bulletproof vest during the commission of a felony; Florida Statute 775.0846 makes that a separate felony when the vest is possessed while committing or attempting a qualifying controlled-substance offense.
Krueger is being held without bond at the Lake County Jail, with the seizure of narcotics, body armor, and firearms cited as factors in that decision. The public report does not include the precise amount of methamphetamine recovered, so the potential sentencing exposure tied to the trafficking allegation cannot be determined from the available details.
The charges remain allegations, and the case will move through the court system as prosecutors review the evidence and decide how to proceed. No additional arrests connected to the Hidden Pointe Lane investigation were reported as of Friday.
