Drug bust nets 75 grams of cocaine

By TED SULLIVAN Chronicle Staff Writer

Missouri River Drug Task Force detectives netted 75 grams of cocaine in a drug bust at a Bozeman home and arrested two men, one of whom admitted to being an illegal immigrant.


Cresencio Galvan, 42, of Bozeman, and Hector Baca Quiroz, whose age and hometown remain unknown, appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court Wednesday morning on drug-dealing charges.

Galvan faces felony charges of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute and possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.

Quiroz, whose initial appearance in Justice Court was postponed until Thursday morning after the judge decided he needed an English-Spanish interpreter, faces one felony charge of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Both men are expected to enter their pleas in District Court at a future date.

According to court records, detectives conducted a probation search of a man's home on the 1700 block of West Beall Street Tuesday at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and found baggies of white powder in the bedroom.

The baggies, containing amounts ranging from a gram to an ounce, were hidden in a drawer, a glove, a slipper, a pair of shorts and a stuffed animal, court records stated. The white powder had been divided into quantities police say is commonly used for selling drugs.

In the bedroom closet, detectives also found $660 in cash hidden in pockets of clothing and a white tube with burned residue, court records stated. The tube appeared to have been used for inhaling drugs.

The man told detectives he was not working and had no explanation for the cash in the house, court records stated.

Meanwhile, a second man was found in another bedroom, as was more white powder, tucked in a shoe near the bed, according to court records. The entire amount of powder appeared to weigh about an ounce, although it was divided into single grams.

The second man told detectives he was illegally in the United States, court records stated, but gave police a false name.

Galvan and Quiroz were then arrested and placed in Gallatin County's jail, where they were held without bail until their initial appearances in court Wednesday morning.

The white powder found in the house tested positive for cocaine, according to court records.

In court Wednesday, Judge G.L. Smith ordered Galvan held in jail on $25,000 bail.

“This is allegedly a serious offense as far as this court is concerned,â€