AZMEX UPDATE 4-3-19

AZMEX UPDATE 4 MAR 2019


Note: mug shots at links. No info on immigration status of the several below, if any.
Thx


DEA: Six arrested in East Valley drug bust
Posted: 2:14 PM, Mar 04, 2019 Updated: 2:21 PM, Mar 04, 2019
By: abc15.com staff
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-northeast-valley/scottsdale/dea-six-arrested-in-east-valley-drug-bust

Photo by: Courtesy Drug Enforcement Agency

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Authorities have arrested six people in connection with a drug investigation in the East Valley.

The Drug Enforcement Agency said it worked with the Scottsdale Police Department to investigate narcotics activity by an organization last year.

The case led authorities to search four homes on March 1. Investigators say they collectively found two kilograms of cocaine,
1,000 suspected fentanyl pills, $28,000 in cash and 16 weapons, some of which had been reported as stolen.

Authorities also found body armor and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

One of those arrested, Jose Gonzalez-Ramos, admitted to being a member of the MS-13 gang, the DEA said.
The five others arrested were Yasary Bejarano, Luis Adrian Gonzalez Perez, Carlos Daniel Pineda Martinez,
Jorge Marin Cuevas, and John Hernandez Vera.

All will face various state drug and weapons charges, according to a news release.

End

Also:

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/2019/03/04/dea-arrests-six-drug-charges-including-ms-gang-member/

https://www.12news.com/article/news/crime/dea-busts-phoenix-drug-operation-arrests-six-including-ms-13-member-agency-says/75-4fec68b5-273e-4c7b-88bf-8caf478c7b12



More:

Truck driver charged; caught with 40 pounds of meth in Eloy
Staff Reports Mar 4, 2019 Updated 7 min ago

https://www.pinalcentral.com/eloy_enterprise/news/truck-driver-charged-caught-with-pounds-of-meth-in-eloy/article_ceae003e-cb40-5e61-b7ca-e2853997aaba.html

ELOY — A truck driver is facing criminal charges after authorities allegedly found about 40 pounds of methamphetamine
among his cargo during a traffic stop in Eloy.

According to a criminal complaint filed last week in Pinal County Superior Court, 30-year-old Juan Felix-Sotelo
has been charged with possessing and transporting dangerous drugs, a Class 2 felony.

An Arizona Department of Public Safety officer stopped a commercial vehicle driven by Felix-Sotelo on Feb. 21
for speeding through a construction zone on Interstate 10. The driver exited at Sunland Gin Road and stopped at the Petro Truck Stop.

The driver told the DPS officer he was transporting produce from California to Texas.
The officer was given consent to search the truck and uncovered an ice chest containing 39 bundles of crystal meth.
According to DPS, the narcotics was concealed with a towel and bottles of water.

Felix-Sotelo and a passenger, Raymundo Felix, were arrested and taken to the Pinal County jail.
They're both being held on $75,000 bonds and were arraigned on Friday in Superior Court.

End


Still more:

Feds: Arizona smuggling ring used US banks to transfer $1M
10 hrs ago

https://www.pinalcentral.com/arizona_news/feds-arizona-smuggling-ring-used-us-banks-to-transfer-m/article_ad1e9a20-9c1c-5384-a2ac-460b81641336.html


TUCSON (AP) — Federal authorities say a southern Arizona smuggling ring used the U.S. banking system
to transfer more than $1 million.

The Arizona Daily Star reports it found sworn affidavits filed in U.S. District Court in Tucson that described the money being deposited
into 22 bank accounts controlled by alleged ringleader Audias Sanchez Colin.

He was one of 27 people accused of conspiring to transport and harbor people who were in the country illegally
and launder the proceeds of that conspiracy.

The 38-year-old Sanchez faces between eight and 10 years in federal prison when he's sentenced.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 12.

Authorities say the operation allegedly moved thousands of migrants from Mexico and Central America to the United States
and then to various destinations around the country.

End