Through the investigation, police learned of multiple members of a local group of drug traffickers. Salt Lake City resident Patrice Raelynn Estes was charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. ARKANSAS, USA Arkansas authorities have completed a drug bust that resulted in more than $55 million in various drugs, 1,200 different arrests, and the recovery of hundreds of firearms.. In total, 33 pounds of cocaine and 25 pounds of fentanyl mixtures were seized along with an assault weapon and three guns. Under the new rules, police need merely show in a civil procedure in federal court that the seized cash or property was derived from crime--with a standard of proof that can be met even in the absence of an arrest. The Mystery of the $200 Million Drug Bust | The War on Drugs VICE 16.6M subscribers Subscribe 22K Share 2.1M views 1 year ago This is the story of how the biggest cash bust in the history of. Vandergrift Borough Police Officer Nate Rigatti estimated the street value of the drugs at $15,000. In effect, youre punishing the person first and having the trial afterward, said Joel Maliniak, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. Luis Cuna-Vigil, of Rosarito, Mexico, is facing five charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder money. The Maldonado case, which was first reported by The Denver Gazette, began with a routine traffic stop. . 200 Oak Avenue Kittanning, PA 16201. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@triblive.com or via Twitter . Youve got to remember what our primary role is--to get the dope dealers off our street in our city, explained Lt. Jerry Schultze, head of the unit. Seizures by Glendales 3-year-old detail have bought the 182-officer department infrared night-vision goggles for helicopter pilots as well as a high-tech laser device that can read nearly invisible fingerprints, Lt. Mike Post said. Using information from RehabList.org to diagnose health issues or diseases is not advised. Estimated read time: 9-10 But Maldonado began running afoul of the law while he was still in his teens. Maldonados nervousness did not subside throughout the entire contact, even though the trooper told him he wasnt getting a ticket, only a warning, the arrest warrant application says. The backlog grew so quickly that it soon was taking the office 250 days merely to begin processing a claim. Narcotic Anonymous and Alcoholic Anonymous are two support groups that bring addicts together to encourage each other towards a healthier and sober life. Prior to the 2021 drug bust, a grand jury returned five federal indictments for defendants related to the operation, investigators said in their original announcement. money laundering investigation ends without charges, Blackouts hit large parts of Argentina after fire damages power line amid heat wave, Missing father of 3 found inside sharks stomach, IDed by tattoo, Daylight saving time 2023: Heres when you should set your clocks forward, EpiPens dont work in space? He was sentenced on May 23, 2022, to four years and nine months in prison with credit for time served, followed by three years of supervised release. However, she was admitted to the Utah Alternatives to Conviction Track, which offers a mix of treatment and sanction alternatives designed to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior. April 24, 2021 @ Penn Crossing, Westmoreland County - Reduction in Overdose Deaths for Third Year, SAFE Panel - Ligonier Valley HS, 11/17 @ 6:30, Westmoreland Community Action drug help line: 1-844-897-8927, 7pm-2am, Westmoreland district courts 1st in PA to offer drug treatment as an alternative, New hotline launched in Westmoreland County: 1-844-897-8927, 50 Common Mistakes That Parents Make When They Discover Their Kids Are Using, 25 facts you should know about the growing heroin epidemic, TRIB: Police: Bust leads to $90K in raw fentanyl in Ligonier, Spike in U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths During COVID-19, As pandemic worsens, opioid crisis continues, Drug Take Back Day - Sat. The trooper scanned the inside of Maldonados car and noticed that it was empty except for a couple of energy drinks, some gas station snack foods and a blanket on the back seat. The investigation came to a head during the week of Nov. 21, when police executed 11 search warrants in and around the city: We do have an ongoing dialogue with social service groups and the health-care system within the province and within Brandon here itself to hopefully have this gap in supply turn into some positive results for those trying to break free of addiction, says Deputy Chief Randy Lewis. Drug Take-Back Day - Sat. He was sentenced on Oct. 18, 2022, to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. He ran on them after they worked the case, and that was their debacle.. Sept. 1 meeting format, location to be announced. Although he supports the gist of the forfeiture law, Uelman says the seized money should go to the U.S. Treasury. Joe Klein, head of the Fullerton Police Departments drug detail. The results, however, are far from dazzling. His last one was in March, three months before the Colorado traffic stop. In exchange, prosecutors dropped three additional drug and money laundering charges. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two additional drug distribution charges. TheNew York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-23 and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutors Investigators Unit led the investigation, officials said. The totals cover cash and property disbursed through Dec. 31, 1987. Maldonado is wanted on two felony charges unlawful distribution of more than 225 grams of a controlled substance and introducing that substance into the state of Colorado. In addition to telling the agent that the drugs were headed to South Bend, Maldonado said he had picked up the fentanyl in California and had performed a drug run at least once before, the affidavit says. When he pulled them out, he made a staggering discovery: 48 packages of fentanyl powder. Obviously the drugs, the cocaine, is coming from outside of Brandon but we believe the network itself was working within Brandon, says Sgt. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Aldi announces closing, opening dates for Lower Burrell, New Kensington stores, Report: Arconic in talks about potential sale, Suspect charged with threatening to kill New Kensington victims if they testified against him, On one of region's steepest roads, Aspinwall's Run for the Hill of It benefits emergency services, Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. COVID-19: What Grandparents Can Do for Children Living with Parental Addiction. Read more: We are not asleep at the wheel, Besser said. To keep the property, police must merely show the drug link by a preponderance of evidence, a lower standard of proof than the beyond a reasonable doubt required for a criminal conviction. Maldonado agreed to complete the delivery of the drugs so that the DEA could identify traffickers higher up in the criminal network. Police say this group was observed to import multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine into Brandon and then distribute the cocaine through a sophisticated operation network of high/mid-level traffickers and local couriers. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 22. Despite the potential profit, such investigations have little appeal to many police departments. A major New York City drug trafficker and 12 others were nabbed in a citywide, multi-agency drug bust following a year-long investigation into narcotics and gun trafficking in Brooklyn and Queens, officials announced Saturday. Estes was sentenced on Sept. 21, 2022, to three and a half years in prison and three years of supervised release. The trooper found two traps used to conceal contraband in the floorboard, the affidavit says. minutes. DEA was working with us and they made a deal with the driver, Master Trooper Gary Cutler said. Freedom from addiction begins with American Addiction Centers (AAC). Actual name is Rio Health Clinic. A fentanyl courier moving enough to kill millions got busted, then slipped the DEA. This cool kids outdoors club will introduce you to L.A.s best asset, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass endorses Rep. Barbara Lee in Senate race, Sirhan Sirhan, convicted of killing Robert F. Kennedy, denied parole by California board, Many still stranded in San Bernardino Mountains as snow blocks roads, threatens roofs, Suspected shooter in attacks on Jewish men was on FBIs radar, LAPD chief says, Caregiver accused in Manhattan Beach child sexual abuse case believed to be in Philippines. Salt Lake City resident Judy "Juicy Judy" Ann Maestas was also charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and prosecutors again dropped one when she pleaded guilty to the other in March 2022. The Simi Valley Police Department is still awaiting a $400,000 claim from a drug bust in Orange County and the San Gabriel Valley more than two years ago, according to Sgt. Law enforcement identified 41-year-old Nelson Cruz as the ringleader of the operation. Vandergrift has 30 women only and 21 men only rehab centers within 150 miles of the city center. Two of the charges she pleaded guilty to carry a maximum of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison; the third carries a maximum of five years. You can even find exclusive or executive treatment in Vandergrift to make rehabilitation as easy as possible. Salt Lake City resident Linda Hernandez-Alvarez pleaded guilty in October 2022 to three drug distribution charges and two money laundering charges. As a result, most police departments have arranged for their seizures to be processed under the federal law by getting the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to adopt their cases. Salt Lake City resident Celina "Baby G" Alexandra Garcia pleaded guilty in February 2022 to distribution of a controlled substance. The teams ended up joining forces and arresting several suspects, Hamilton said. Leaders of the most aggressive squads defend their long-distance work as part of the local fight against drugs. Officials were hesitant to detail how they got on the case, other than to say they were following a tip from someone caught in an earlier investigation. When the suspect sped away in a blue station wagon, both teams of undercover officers followed in their unmarked cars. The squads are an outgrowth of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, which allows local agencies to claim as much as 90% of the assets they seize through criminal investigations. A 27-year-old man, who police accuse of being the leader, remains in custody, according to MacBeth. Photo of some of the seized items from Brandons largest drug bust. 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David Maldonado managed to drive away from federal drug agents after he agreed to cooperate with them. Investigators said in 2021 that 27 people were indicted, but federal court records list only 26. Leandro Cortez Ochoa Lovato-Howells, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced on July 12, 2022, to nine years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Listed below are some of the Los Angeles-area police departments that have specialized squads of officers who concentrate on investigations of high-level dealers, often going beyond their cities borders to make arrests and seize drugs. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Mike Messina drove one of the hottest police cars anywhere. Warmer storms could cause problems, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. His preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 26. http://www.wtae.com/news/Tip-to-police-leads-to-Westmoreland-County-drug-bust/38493052 WTAE report on Vandergrift man busted with 3 bricks of black powder heroin. A Vandergrift man who police say attempted to flee from authorities was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges of having suspected heroin and other narcotics. The information on RehabList.org should not be used to substitute or replace the professional care that you might receive. She is based in Washington. . In exchange, prosecutors dismissed two additional drug distribution charges. This is a fiasco for the DEA, one policing expert said. Before such laws, the Franchise Tax Board was the sole state agency able to claim seized property--and then only for unpaid taxes. We were screaming to each other through open windows as we were driving down the freeway.. . After his Brea Police Department seized a new red Corvette from a Colombian cocaine trafficker in 1984, Messina used it to cruise Southern California while posing as a high-rolling drug dealer. . The individual who was delivering that amount of fentanyl is now in the wind. Felicia "Fela" Nicole Mingura, of Salt Lake City, was charged with three counts of drug distribution and pleaded guilty to one of them in November 2022. The massive drug bust is just one of several made across the country each year. In addition to meth and heroin, agents seized fentanyl pills, 15 guns and about $25,000 in cash. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. OFFICERS MONEY RECEIVED CLAIMS DEPARTMENT FORMED IN UNIT FROM SEIZURES PENDING BREA 1984 4 $250,000 $400,000 BURBANK 1985 6 $1.3 million $2.3 million FULLERTON 1986 5 $200,000 $900,000 GLENDALE 1985 5 $1.3 million $7.2 million MONTEBELLO 1984 4 $689,000 $1 million + SIMI VALLEY 1984 4 $915,000 $2 million TORRANCE 1985 7 $400,000 $5 million WEST COVINA 1986 8 $2.6 million $3.4 million, POLICE ANNUAL COST DEPARTMENT OF UNIT BREA $300,000 BURBANK $380,270 FULLERTON $500,000 GLENDALE $330,000 MONTEBELLO $186,000 SIMI VALLEY $400,000 TORRANCE $533,000 WEST COVINA $500,000. Salt Lake City resident Brandon "Trip" Jay Perrault is also scheduled for a final pretrial conference on March 6. Maldonado managed to drive away from federal drug agents after he agreed to cooperate with them while... 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