A 15-month joint investigation has culminated in a sweeping set of charges against a Miami man accused of orchestrating a large-scale drug smuggling operation into Florida State Prisons.
Dimy Paraison, 52, of Miami, faces a possible life sentence after being charged on October 13 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) with Continuing a Criminal Enterprise, among other serious felonies. His bond has been set at a staggering $1.5 million.
The Smuggling Mastermind
The investigation, which began in June 2024 at the request of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office (SRCSO), quickly uncovered a sophisticated network for introducing contraband through inmate visits in Northwest Florida.
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Authorities identified Paraison as an associate of the ZOE Pound Gang, a notorious Haitian Criminal Street Gang, whose role was to recruit individuals to smuggle narcotics and other illicit items into several Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities.
The operation was massive, with agents and DOC staff seizing a dangerous array of contraband throughout the investigation:
- Substituted Cathinones (bath salts): Approximately 387 grams
- Marijuana: 1.2 kilograms
- Spice (synthetic cannabis): Over 190 grams
- LSD: 123 strips
- Methamphetamine: Over 180 grams
- Tobacco: Over 500 grams
- Cell phones: Four
Caught in the Act
Paraison’s run ended dramatically in February 2025. While allegedly en route to a contraband drop at a DOC facility, he was intercepted by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). Paraison attempted to flee but was ultimately apprehended after a vehicle pursuit. He is currently being held at the Alachua County Jail.
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The formal charges against Paraison include two counts of Trafficking in Controlled Substances and Conspiracy to Traffic Controlled Substances, alongside charges for Introduction of Contraband, Money Laundering, and Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony.
The case will now be handled by the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
The successful takedown was the result of collaboration between FDLE, SRCSO, Escambia County law enforcement, and DOC staff, effectively shutting down a significant source of illegal activity inside the state’s correctional facilities.
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