More Than 44 Pounds Of Meth Seized, 19 Arrested In Connection With South Sound Drug Distribution Ring
Defendants with ties to Arizona and California distributing meth and laundering money
TACOMA, Wash. - An investigation begun by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team in February 2014 resulted today in the arrest of 19 people with ties to a methamphetamine distribution ring. Law enforcement served 24 search warrants on locations in Washington and Arizona in connection with the case. More than 20 vehicles were searched in connection with the investigation. Today alone law enforcement seized more than 44 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 50 firearms, and more than $50,000 in cash. Previous seizures associated with this drug ring include more than five pounds of meth and more than $28,000.
Initial appearances for those arrested in the Western District of Washington will be today and tomorrow in U.S. District Court in Tacoma at 2:30 p.m. Those charged in the indictment include:
Jose Ernesto Mozequeda Vasquez, 34, of Chehalis, Washington
Jesus Beltran, 34, of Phoenix, Arizona
Antonio De La Mora, 41, of Centralia, Washington
Juan Salud Garcia Almanza, 30 of Centralia, Washington
Violetta Rosalia Guadarrama, 32 of Centralia, Washington
Ernesto Luna Vasquez, 44 of Kelso, Washington
Maria Centeno Gallegos, 37 of Chehalis, Washington
Collin Mesinas, 28 of Olympia, Washington
Aundrea Lynn Natins, 41 of Port Orchard, Washington
William Hagmann, 54 of Shelton, Washington
Jon Daniel Brownfield, 58 of Shelton, Washington
Kimberly Brooke Gray, 36 of Port Orchard, Washington
Rebecca Sue Godsalve, 52 of Bremerton, Washington
Mark Agnew, 51 of Gig Harbor, Washington
Isaela Pacheco Centeno, 22 of Poulsbo, Washington
Teresa Goos, 55 of Hoodsport, Washington
Derek Johnson, 29 of Gig Harbor, Washington
Karen Kenmir, 55 of Shelton, Washington
A 19th defendant, Gerardo Enrique Flores, 26, of Chula Vista, California, was arrested in California and will make his initial appearance on a criminal complaint in the Southern District of California.
This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF), High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved.
Today’s searches and arrests were led by the Drug Enforcement (DEA) in Washington, Arizona, and California, and involved officers from the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement (WESTNET), Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement (TNET), Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Joint Narcotics Enforcement (JNET), Vancouver Police Department, Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Thurston Narcotics (TNT), Lakewood Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Shelton Police Department, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement (OPNET), Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Bremerton Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Valley Narcotics Enforcement (VNET), and the Lakewood Police Department
