More than 44 Pounds of Meth Seized, 19 Arrested in Connection with Southsound Drug Distribution Ring

          An investigation begun by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team in February 2014 resulted today in the arrest of 19 people with ties to a methamphetamine distribution ring, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  Law enforcement served 24 search warrants on locations in Washington and Arizona in connection with the case.  More than 20 vehicles were searched in connection with the investigation.  Today alone law enforcement seized more than 44 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 50 firearms, and more than $50,000 in cash.

           Previous seizures associated with this drug ring include more than 5 pounds of meth and more than $28,000.

            Those arrested today in the Western District of Washington will make their initial appearances today and tomorrow in U.S. District Court in Tacoma at 2:30 p.m.  Those charged in the indictment include:

JOSE ERNESTO MOZEQUEDA VASQUEZ, 34. of Chehalis, Washington

JESUS BELTRAN, 34, of Phoenix, Arizona

ANTONIO DE LA MORA, 41, of Centralia, Washington

JUAN SALUD GARCIA ALMANZA, 30 of Centralia, Washington

VIOLETTA ROSALIA GUADARRAMA, 32 of Centralia, Washington

ERNESTO LUNA VASQUEZ, 44 of Kelso, Washington

MARIA CENTENO GALLEGOS, 37 of Chehalis, Washington

COLLIN MESINAS, 28 of Olympia, Washington

AUNDREA LYNN NATINS, 41 of Port Orchard, Washington

WILLIAM HAGMANN, 54 of Shelton, Washington

JON DANIEL BROWNFIELD, 58 of Shelton, Washington

KIMBERLY BROOKE GRAY, 36 of Port Orchard, Washington

REBECCA SUE GODSALVE, 52 of Bremerton, Washington

MARK AGNEW, 51 of Gig Harbor, Washington

ISAELA PACHECO CENTENO, 22 of Poulsbo, Washington

TERESA GOOS, 55 of Hoodsport, Washington

DEREK JOHNSON, 29 of Gig Harbor, Washington

KAREN KENMIR, 55 of Shelton, Washington

          A nineteenth defendant, GERARDO ENRIQUE FLORES, 26, of Chula Vista, California, was arrested in California and will make his initial appearance on a criminal complaint in the Southern District of California.

            The charges contained in the indictment 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.

            This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved.

            Today’s searches and arrests were led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Washington, Arizona, and California, and involved officers from the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WESTNET), Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (TNET), Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), Vancouver Police Department, Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Thurston Narcotics Team (TNT), Lakewood Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Shelton Police Department, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET), Pierce County Sheriff’s Office,  Bremerton Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET), and the Lakewood Police Department.

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marci L. Ellsworth and C. Andrew Colasurdo.