The Brief
- Ryan Perez, the owner of two Hippie Crib shops in Tampa, has been arrested in Spring Hill.
- During a press conference on Monday, the DEA said Perez was using cryptocurrency to buy narcotics on the dark web.
- The Hernando County Sheriff said it had been investigating Perez for about a year and a break in the case came on December 26, 2025, when there was an overdose death in Pasco County.
SPRING HILL, Fla. – The owner of two Tampa smoke shops is accused of using cryptocurrency to buy narcotics on the dark web and selling them in the Bay Area.
The backstory:
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said it began investigating Spring Hill resident Ryan Perez more than a year ago after getting information that he was dealing drugs.…