Meth Ring Taken Down In Cortez
Five people were arrested in connection with a methamphetamine trafficking ring in the Cortez area on Wednesday.
Three other defendants accused in the trafficking ring were already in custody prior to yesterday’s arrests.
During the course of this two year investigation, agents and task force officers seized over 6.5 pounds of highly pure methamphetamine, 7 firearms, including SKS assault rifles, and $25,670. Those charged in the indictment include: 40-year-old Hilario Quintero-Rodriguez 37-year-old Abel Sanchez-Leon 46-year-old Octavio Quezada-Perez 28-year-old Flodina Beletso Gallegos 50-year-old Guadalupe Ruiz-Guardado 25-year-old Julio Mares-Ruiz 35-year-old Luis Jorge Martinez-Valdiva 60-year-old Robert Mason Byas All eight defendants face drug trafficking charges, including conspiracy to unlawfully and knowingly possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more methamphetamine. The maximum penalty the defendants face is not less than 10 years, and not more than life in federal prison, as well as a fine of up to $4,000,000.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from the Southwest Drug Task Force, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the 22nd Judicial District Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force.
