News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2004

St. Louis, Missouri: Three California men and six St. Louis area people been indicted on heroin conspiracy charges, DEA Special Agent in Charge Preston L. Grubbs and United States Attorney James G. Martin announced today.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Metropolitan and St. Louis County Police Departments.

ADRIAN MINNIS, 32, 1900 block of Time Centre Drive, St. Charles; JORGE ORTIZ, 33, Los Angeles, California; TERRELL MINNIS, 30, 9000 block of Bessemer, St. Louis County; ANTONIO MINNIS, 39, 2800 block of Westchester Court, St. Charles; STEVEN WADE, 33, Inglewood, California; MARNEIK GUEST, 33, 9000 BLOCK OF Midland, St. Louis County; ANGELA NUNALEY, 34, 1500 block of North Hanley, St. Louis County; VICTORIA POWELL, 34, 4400 block of Cote Brilliante, St. Louis; and RICARDO SICAIROS, 24, South Gate, California; were indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute in excess of one kilogram of heroin. Additionally, Nunaley and Powell are charged with possession with intent to distribute in excess of one kilogram of heroin. The indictment was returned Wednesday, November 10, but remained sealed until the arrest of the defendants today.

If convicted, these charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and/or fines up to $4,000,000.

According to the indictment, beginning in March 2004, Adrian Minnis was the leader of this multi-kilo heroin conspiracy.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.