An undercover detective allegedly bought meth from a Greenacres man in a barbershop parking lot in March, kicking off a months-long investigation that ended with six people arrested on racketeering and drug trafficking charges. The case, built on undercover buys, pound-level deals and what investigators describe as coded text messages, spans transactions from March through June involving methamphetamine, oxycodone-acetaminophen pills and a Zelle payment connected to one suspect's own mother.
How the Deals Allegedly Started
According to cbs12.com, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office began investigating the alleged drug operation in March 2026. Investigators allege that 33-year-old Richard Sebastian Paterniti agreed on March 3 to sell the undercover detective one ounce of crystal methamphetamine for $400, then met the detective near Loqustiles Barber Shop on Lake Worth Road in Greenacres and handed over a bag containing about 29 grams of the drug.
That same month, investigators say Paterniti arranged for 33-year-old Craig Steven Benard to deliver another ounce of methamphetamine to the undercover detective, also for $400. The outlet's report notes Paterniti also texted an offer for two ounces of methamphetamine for $600 on a future purchase, a deal investigators allege he followed through on in April, selling the detective about two ounces for $600.
Deals Escalate to Pound Quantities
By May, the alleged transactions had grown in scale. Investigators allege Paterniti negotiated and completed a deal for one full pound of methamphetamine, selling it to the detective for $2,300. That same month, Benard allegedly sold the undercover detective 40 pills identified as oxycodone-acetaminophen for $600, while Paterniti allegedly texted that he expected to get more pills.
The report describes six defendants as being involved in communications about drug supplies, payments and suspected distribution activity, per the arrest warrant affidavit cited in the same account. In June, Paterniti allegedly arranged another pound-level deal, this time for $2,400, with part of the payment sent through Zelle to an account associated with his mother, 52-year-old Jerri Noreen Kitzelman. Notably, the substance in that June package allegedly tested negative for controlled substances, according to the affidavit.
Charges and Ages of the Six Defendants
All six suspects were arrested Saturday, per the arrest-warrant affidavit. Paterniti, Benard, 29-year-old Jonathon Earl Cain and 31-year-old Kenny Charles were each charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in cocaine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Kitzelman and 70-year-old Jerry Salerno were each charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
The two-way communication device charge stems from a Florida law that makes it a third-degree felony to use a phone or similar device to facilitate or further any felony offense, according to Florida Statutes, Section 934.215. The charges against all six defendants remain allegations, and each is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
