Twelve Arrested in Two States for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Meth and Cocaine

DEA Raid at Mount Vernon Car Lot

Skagit County, WA – Eleven people were arrested yesterday in Washington and Nevada in connection with a large drug smuggling and distribution ring operating in four western Washington counties, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  Six of those arrested were from Mount Vernon, WA and One person arrested was from Camano Island, WA.  An additional person was already in immigration custody.

The arrests coincided with the execution of 24 court-authorized search warrants for properties located in King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Yakima, and Franklin Counties.  The searched locations included a restaurant in Everett, an auto body shop in Sedro Woolley, and a car dealership in Mount Vernon, Washington.

DEA RAID

DEA RAID

Defendants made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle today.  Those arrested in Nevada will make their initial appearances there before being transferred to the Western District of Washington.

DEA RAID

DEA RAID

 Ten of the defendants arrested to date are charged in an indictment returned October 26, 2016 with distributing heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom Counties.  Additionally, two defendants are charged by criminal complaint.

dea-3

 Over the course of the six-month investigation leading up to the coordinated searches, law enforcement seized eight kilos of methamphetamine, two kilos of cocaine and nearly a kilo of heroin.  Law enforcement also seized more than $117,000 in cash.  Yesterday alone, agents seized an additional two kilos of cocaine, more than $180,000 cash and more than 20 firearms – including a loaded AK47.

DEA Raid Mount Vernon Car Lot

DEA Raid Mount Vernon Car Lot

            These defendants are currently in custody:

ERIC MARQUEZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 24

HECTOR HUGO GARCIA-GUTIERREZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26

BALZAR REYES-GARCIA; Camano Island, WA – Age 44

ANGEL SERRANO-CARRENO; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 29

HECTOR CONTRERAS-IBARRA; Pasco, WA – Age 32

IVAN BETANZOS-TORRES; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26

PABLO CATANO; Renton, WA, – Age 36

EDGAR GONZALEZ-TORREZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 21

OSCAR LUNA-MERCADO; Everett, WA – Age 31

MIGUEL VALDOVINOS-CISNEROS; Kent, WA – Age 18

RIGOBERTO CASTELLANO-HERRERA, Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26

ANTONIO GOMEZ, Burien, WA – Age 28

            The charges contained in the indictment and complaints are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DEA Raid

DEA Raid

This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved.  The investigation was led by: the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in conjunction with the FBI, Whatcom Gang & Drug Task Force and Skagit County Inter-Agency Drug Task Force.  The investigation was supported by: the Auburn Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Snohomish County Regional Drug & Gang Task Force, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Everett Police Department and Seattle Police Department.  Additional assistance was provided by HSI; CBP and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

                The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Vaughan and Steven Masada.

            Press contact for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Public Affairs Officer Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov.

Information Written and Provided by the Public Information Officer for the Drug Enforcement Agency.

About the Author

Chris Nelson
I'm a long time Skagit County Resident. I believe in doing the right thing and helping others when you can.

1 Comment on "Twelve Arrested in Two States for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Meth and Cocaine"

  1. Awesome Job!! So thankful to pay my taxes and have results from a year long investigation like this. Goodbye LOSERS! Now, if we would only get these asses outta this country after they have served their personal time in prison. What? Ya I say Ship their losing asses out of THE USA! They can go back to their country of origin and BE MARKED! Yes sir, that should also be a final justification to there choice to aquire, sell and distribute DRUGS that others of us DO NOT WANT IN THIS COUNTRY!

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