March 17, 2008

Brown Announces Meth Lab And Santa Rosa Drug Ring Bust

Eight arrested, methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, hash, guns, U.S. currency seized

SANTA ROSA--California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that California Department of Justice agents yesterday arrested eight suspects in connection with a Santa Rosa drug distribution ring and methamphetamine laboratory in the town of Winton.

“Methamphetamine is a scourge destroying lives and disrupting families throughout many communities in Northern California,” Attorney General Brown said. “These criminals set up a clandestine laboratory, in the small town of Winton, to manufacture this dangerous drug and ship it throughout the state.”

Yesterday’s arrests mark the conclusion of a three month investigation, led by the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, into a drug trafficking ring which originated in Santa Rosa. In January, investigators began tracking the Santa Rosa-based suspects, eventually linking their operation to a group in the town of Winton.

In Santa Rosa, Martin Villanueva-Jacobo, 43, Maria Lopez, 33, and Feliz Lopez-Nunez, 38, were all arrested. In the town of Winton, agents arrested Jose Marquez, 30, Luis Silva-Murillo, 27, Sonia Ceballos, 20, Hector Aguilar, 22, and Maria Quintero, 28. All the suspects will be charged with offenses including manufacturing and preparing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine and hash for sale. All suspects were booked in their respective County jails, awaiting arraignment.

When agents served drug-related search warrants in Winton yesterday, they shut down a clandestine laboratory, where powdered methamphetamine was being converted into ICE, a potent, smokeable form of methamphetamine.

Approximately forty state, local and federal law enforcement agencies, assisted the California Department of Justice in serving the search warrants and making the arrests.

Investigators also seized 26.9 pounds of ICE & methamphetamine, 69.8 pounds of marijuana, 73.4 grams of Hash, 53.8 grams of cocaine, 5 handguns, 4 rifles and $45,995.00 in U.S. currency. The street value of the seized drugs exceeds $500,000.

The California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement conducted the investigation that led to yesterday’s arrests, with assistance from the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence, Napa Special Investigations Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Santa Rosa, Cotati and Petaluma Police Department’s, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and the Merced County Narcotic Task Force.

Information on the suspects includes the following:

VILLANUEVA-JACOBO, Martin; DOB 11/6/1964;
1651 Kerry Lane, Santa Rosa, CA;
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine For Sale; Possession of Marijuana For Sale; Possession of Cocaine For Sale, Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Firearm

LOPEZ, Maria; DOB 4/7/1974;
1651 Kerry Lane, Santa Rosa, CA;
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine For Sale; Possession of Marijuana For Sale; Possession of Cocaine For Sale, Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Firearm

LOPEZ-NUNEZ, Feliz; DOB 2/17/1970
1651 Kerry Lane, Santa Rosa, CA;
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine For Sale; Possession of Marijuana For Sale; Possession of Cocaine For Sale, Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Firearm

MARQUEZ, Jose I.; DOB 9/21/1977;
6814 Arlene Drive, Winton, CA;
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine For Sale; Manufacturing or Preparing a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Firearm; Endangering the Health of a Child

SILVA-MURILLO, Luis; DOB 3/15/1980;
6814 Arlene Drive, Winton, CA;
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine For Sale; Manufacturing or Preparing a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Firearm; Endangering the Health of a Child

CEBALLOS, Sonia; DOB 6/30/1987;
6814 Arlene Drive, Winton, CA;
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine For Sale; Manufacturing or Preparing a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Firearm; Endangering the Health of a Child

AGUILAR, Hector; DOB 8/15/1985;
6814 Arlene Drive, Winton, CA;
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine For Sale; Manufacturing or Preparing a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Firearm; Endangering the Health of a Child

QUINTERO, Maria; DOB 7/9/1979;
6814 Arlene Drive, Winton, CA;
Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine For Sale; Manufacturing or Preparing a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Firearm; Endangering the Health of a Child

For additional information, on yesterday’s arrest please contact John George, Special Agent in Charge, California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, San Francisco Regional Office, at 415-351-3374.

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