Miami, Fla. (Le Floridien) — A well-known barber in the heart of Miami’s Little Haiti community is now at the center of a criminal investigation after police say he was running a drug operation from behind his barber chair.
Stanley R. Gabot, 57, owner of the Fresh Kut Barbershop at 5912 NE 2nd Avenue, was arrested Wednesday on multiple drug-related charges, including selling rock cocaine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to traffic, and possession of cannabis with intent to sell, according to Miami-Dade jail records.
While Gabot was known to many in the neighborhood as a longtime barber and small business owner, authorities say he was also quietly operating a side business as a drug dealer — a claim that has shocked those familiar with the popular shop.
According to Miami Police, the investigation into Gabot began months ago and involved a series of undercover drug purchases. Officers posing as customers reportedly bought narcotics directly from Gabot on at least two occasions. On March 11, an undercover agent allegedly paid $20 for four loose pieces of crack cocaine. A second buy occurred on April 23, when another agent reportedly paid the same amount for two more pieces of the drug. Both transactions were said to have taken place at Gabot’s barber station, where the narcotics were stored in a black bag, police reports state.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Fresh Kut Barbershop on Wednesday, turning up a stash of illicit substances that included 21.1 grams of suspected powder cocaine, 5 grams of suspected crack cocaine, and 44.2 grams of suspected marijuana. Officers also recovered digital scales — often associated with drug distribution — at Gabot’s workstation.
Aerial footage captured by Chopper 6 showed officers swarming the barbershop and detaining several individuals. However, police confirmed that Gabot is currently the only person facing charges.
Gabot was not present during the raid but was later located, arrested, and booked into jail. He appeared in court Thursday, where a judge set his bond at $25,500.
Though the charges are serious, some in the community view the case as a sad fall from grace rather than a high-level criminal enterprise. Still, police emphasize that drug distribution of any kind — especially in a neighborhood-facing business — will not be tolerated.
As of Thursday afternoon, Gabot remained in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
