News
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike Turner
Special Agent
Number: 303-705-7446
October 25, 2006
DEA: Drug Traffickers used Elmo Dolls to Conceal Meth
45 pounds of “Ice” Seized
in Greeley, Colorado-based Operation

SAC
Sweetin displays a replica of an
Elmo doll used to conceal 4 pounds of ICE meth. Behind SAC Sweetin
from left to right is Greeley PD Chief Jerry Garner, Weld County
Sheriff John Cooke and United States Attorney for the District
of Colorado Troy A. Eid. |
DENVER – Jeffrey D. Sweetin, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug
Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, Troy
A. Eid, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, John Cooke,
Weld County Sheriff, and Jerry Garner, Chief of the Greeley Police Department;
announced that a large methamphetamine distribution organization based
in Greeley, Colorado, has been dismantled by the Drug Enforcement Administration
and the Weld County Drug Task Force. The investigation, which began in
September 2005, has resulted in the seizure of a total of over 45 pounds
of high quality ICE methamphetamine, 1.1 kilos of cocaine, and $59,000
in cash. The organization used buses and cars to transport the high quality
meth from California to Colorado. “This organization has been determined to be responsible for making massive
amounts of methamphetamine available to our citizens in North Colorado and surrounding
states,” said DEA SAC Sweetin . “The fact that the drug was of such
high purity, the documented ties to gang activity in the Greeley area, and the
quantities of the methamphetamine being sold reflects just how dangerous this
organization was. I am happy to report that it will be significantly more difficult
finding meth in Greeley today now that this organization is out of business.”

4.4 pounds of methamphetamine seized at Grand Junction, CO. |
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5 pounds of methamphetamine seized at Grand Junction, CO. |
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8 pounds of methamphetamine seized at Grand Junction, CO. |
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7 pounds of methamphetamine seized at Greeley, CO, on 10/23/06. |
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Seized methamphetamine seized in suitcase by DEA. |
On October 18,
2006, a federal grand jury in Denver returned an indictment charging
twenty-one individuals with various drug trafficking crimes, including
conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
DEA Agents and Weld County Drug Task Force officers arrested 10 people
Monday
afternoon or Tuesday based on the indictment. In addition, 9 people were
already in custody on state charges, and 2 are fugitives. They also executed
five search
warrants at three residences, a business, and a storage unit in Greeley.
As a result of the search warrants, agents and officers seized an additional
8
pounds of methamphetamine, $12,000 in cash, 4 weapons (one of which was
stolen), a bullet proof vest and a set of night vision goggles. The alleged leader
of the organization, RIGOVERTO VALLE-SIERRA, was arrested without incident
yesterday in Greeley.
The following people
have been indicted, and are presently in custody:
RIGOVERTO VALLE-SIERRA
MARTIN GOMEZ-BERRERA
FERNANDO VALENZUELA-SOTO
HECTOR JESUS ZAMUDIO-TOLOZA
MICHAEL JAMES OVALLE
ISMAEL GARCIA
ELIZABETH MARCHAND
MONICA ESTRADA
AGUSTIN MAGANA-BERMEO
LARRY JOE HERNANDEZ
OMAR VALLE-SIERRA
DEBBIE LEE MADRID
CHRISTINA FERNANDEZ-MOLINA
ROBERT JOSE CERVANTES JR.
VINCE BENAVIDEZ
LUIS LUNA
ENEAS CAMACHO-DOMINGUEZ
JOSE ALFREDO SANCHEZ-GUSMAN
BOGAR GONZALEZ-ITUARET
The following people
have been indicted, and are considered fugitives from justice:
JOSE QUINTANA
LETICIA MOCTEZUMA
“Drug traffickers prey on those who are vulnerable, and they do not hesitate
to use any and all means necessary to ply their trade,” said United States
Attorney Troy Eid. “They will use anything, including children’s
toys, to hide their illegal drugs from authorities. Thanks to
the outstanding work of the DEA and Weld County Drug Task Force,
a large methamphetamine distribution
organization has been removed from the community.”

Elmo
doll which concealed 4 pounds of methamphetamine at Barstow,
CA. |
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Elmo
doll which concealed 4 pounds of methamphetamine at Barstow,
CA. |
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$25,590
cash seized at Evan, Colorado, by DEA. |
Weld County Sheriff
Cooke said, “This operation is another prime example
of the accomplishment law enforcement can achieve when we
all work together. There is no doubt that these arrests will put
a dent in the distribution and
supply of illegal drugs in Northern Colorado.” Greeley Police
Chief Garner said, “I believe this case provides a great
example of what can happen when law enforcement agencies share information
and resources. That always results in bad news for the bad guys, and that's
what we're all in business for.”
If convicted, each
defendant faces not less than 10 years, and up to life in federal prison,
for conspiracy to possess
with
intent to distribute,
and distribute
methamphetamine. The defendants also separately face various
distribution of methamphetamine charges.
This case was investigated
by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Weld County Drug
Task Force, which includes
the Greeley Police
Department, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, and the Evans Police Department. The
Front Range Task Force, US Postal Inspection Service, US Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), and the Colorado National Guard assisted in the investigation,
as did the Los Angeles Police Department.
The case is being
prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Wayne Campbell and
Mark Barrett.
These charges are
only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty.
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