12/28/2023On December 27, 2023, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Bureau executed a lawful search warrant at the residence of 38945 Pine Street Umatilla, Lake County, Florida. Detectives with Homeland Security and the Mount Dora, Eustis, Leesburg, and Clermont Police departments assisted with the six-month investigation, which stemmed from Crimeline tips and complaints from concerned citizens that indicated the main subject of this investigation, Robert Donaldson (DOB 02/06/1977), was distributing large quantities of narcotics from the residence. In the early morning hours, the Lake County SWAT Team secured the residence and Robert Donaldson, Joana Silva (DOB 04/08/2001), and Lashonda Gaston (DOB 03/12/1979) were located inside. Once the scene was secured, detectives conducted a search of the residence.
A search of the residence revealed a large amount of cocaine, a large amount of cocaine that had been manufactured into crack cocaine, blue pills that were stamped with a handicap symbol that tested positive for fentanyl, a large amount of marijuana, and one handgun that was stolen out of Lake County. The combined weight of the cocaine and crack cocaine seized was approximately one and a half pounds. The combined weight of the blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl was approximately one ounce. Approximately seven pounds of marijuana was seized. Detectives also seized approximately $10,000 in U.S. currency. The street value of all narcotics seized was well over $50,000.
As a result of this investigation, Robert Donaldson was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine over 400 grams, trafficking in fentanyl over 4 grams, possession of marijuana with intent to sell over 20 grams, possession of ammo by a convicted felon, manufacturing cocaine into a cocaine base, possession of drug paraphernalia, and ownership, lease, rental, or possession a residence for trafficking in or manufacturing a controlled substance. Robert Donaldson has an extensive criminal history and is currently on felony probation.
Robert Donaldson’s probation was violated, and he was not given a bond for his new charges.
Joana Silva, who was identified as Robert Donaldson’s fiancé, was arrested and also charged with trafficking in cocaine over 400 grams, trafficking in fentanyl over 4 grams, possession of marijuana with intent to sell over 20 grams, manufacturing cocaine into a cocaine base, possession of drug paraphernala, ownership, lease, rental, or possession a residence for trafficking in or manufacturing a controlled substance, and tampering with evidence as she tried to flush crack cocaine down the toilet during the execution of the search warrant.
Joana Silva was not given a bond for her charges.
Lashonda Gaston was arrested and charged with trafficking in fentanyl over 4 grams and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Lashonda Gaston has a total bond of $60,000 dollars.
