Nine Arrested in Des Moines Methamphetamine Investigation
DES MOINES, IA - United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt announced that just before dawn on December 5, 2012, nine individuals were arrested for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Search warrants and consent searches were also executed at several residences in Des Moines and one residence in Altoona, Iowa. The arrests and searches were conducted in a coordinated effort by: the Drug Enforcement Administration; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Des Moines Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations; Iowa Division of Intelligence; Iowa National Guard Counter-Drug Unit; Iowa State Fire Marshals; Iowa State Patrol; Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and Urbandale Police Department.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement led this investigation.
The following individuals were arrested for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and were arrested at the following locations: Juan Carlos Hernandez Gonzalez at 7301 Fleur Drive, Lot #8, Des Moines; Miguel Bazan Cardenas and Azael Bernal Balderas at 315 Ovid Avenue, Des Moines; Bertoldo Zuniga, 1776 Lyon Street; Des Moines; Ubaldo Carrasco Alcantar at 1412 2nd Place, Des Moines, Iowa; Josue Casteniera Cruz at 7301 Fleur Drive, Lot #53, Des Moines; Andres Gomez, III at 6930 NE 56th Street, Lot #26, Altoona, Iowa; Gabriel Carrasco at 613 East 16th Street; and Beverly Ann Hickcox at 3323 East 8th Street, Des Moines. Preliminary hearings and detention hearings are expected to be scheduled within the next week.
In accordance with the Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct, the public is reminded that an indictment and a complaint are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Additionally, because this matter is pending in the United States District Court, the United States Attorney’s Office does not anticipate making any further comment or statement at this time.
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