OR - Drug bust leads to 11 arrests in Polk County

7:02 AM, Jan 10, 2013

Written by
Joce DeWitt
Statesman Journal

A seven-month investigation into a methamphetamine drug ring led to 11 arrests and the seizure of more than $130,000 of drugs Wednesday morning in Polk County.

About 4 a.m. Oregon State Police SWAT and a Polk County Special Response team served search warrants at three residences in Independence.

Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe said the morning bust went “like clockwork.”

“The best thing that happened was nobody got hurt — no suspects, no officers,” Wolfe said.

According to Independence police, one of more than a dozen agencies to participate in Wednesday’s search, the investigation began with undercover drug buys from suspects in July 2012.

A development in the investigation occured Dec. 8, 2012, when law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a drug transport vehicle in Douglas County enroute to Polk County based on information gained during the investigation.

Officials seized 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine, one pound of heroin and one pound of unidentified powder from the vehicle, which contained two suspects: Sergio Gustavo Pineda-Villanueva, 23, and Faliciano Ayala-Cardenas, 31.

Both men were arrested and taken to the Douglas County jail, where they have Immigration and Customs Enforcement holds.

Pineda-Villanueva was charged with racketeering, distribution of a controlled substance — methamphetamine and distribution of a controlled substance — heroin. His bail was set at $200,000. Ayala-Cardenas was arrested on the same charges and his bail was set at $100,000.

Officials learned that suspects may have been armed and some had histories of violent behavior, but no one was injured when SWAT and the special response team searched the residences, which were at side-by-side houses at 1145 and 1135 Monmouth Street, and an apartment complex at 1050 E Street.

“The city of Independence has received complaints from the general neighborhood — there is a lot of activity there,” Wolfe said of the residences. “They have spent a lot of time fixing this house up and making it look nice, but the fact that there are lots of vehicles coming and going, those sorts of things are always triggers for us.”

Officers also seized two firearms, computers, 12.9 grams of methamphetamine and three vehicles, including a GMC Yukon, a Jeep Cherokee and a Jaguar. The estimated street value of all the drugs seized during the operation is $120,000 in methamphetamine and $19,000 in heroin.

Four children were taken into protective custody and will be placed in foster care, said Independence police.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/arti...ts-Polk-County

Authorities bust major drug ring in Polk County; 15 arrested

By Kimberly A.C. Wilson, The Oregonian

January 09, 2013
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Ten of the people arrested on drug charges Tuesday, include, clockwise, from top left, Faliciano Ayala-Cardenas, 31; Lisandro Rangel-Garcia, 22; Juan Jose Virelas-Solorzano, 34; Efrain Aispuro-Carrasco, 44; Sergio Gustavo Pineda-Villanueva, 23; Brenda Diaz-Diaz, 21; Raul Megel Rodriquez,29; Collene Amelia Walker, 37; Jose Bertin Cruz-Estrada, 22; and Noe Nunez-Manzo, 28.

Polk County Sheriff's Office

Investigators arrested members of an elaborate methamphetamine and heroin syndicate early Wednesday in Polk County, wrapping up a seven-month probe into drug houses in Independence.

At 4 a.m., Oregon State Police SWAT and officers from Polk County's Special Response Team served narcotic search warrants at three locations in Independence.

Eleven people were arrested, along with four others alleged to have been part of the ring who were already in custody on other charges.

In all, authorities seized more than 6.5 pounds of pure meth, more than a pound of heroin, and at least one pound of an unidentified powder, said Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe.

It was the largest meth seizure in county history, Wolfe said.

The sheriff estimated the street value of meth seized during the operation is $120,000; the heroin is valued at $19,000.

Two houses in the 1000-block of 1145 Monmouth Street were the epicenter of the ring, said Sgt. Mark Garton, supervisor of the Polk County Inter-agency Narcotics Team.

Thirteen different agencies took part in the early morning raids, including Independence Police, Monmouth Police, Dallas Police, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Polk County District Attorney's Office, Polk County Inter-agency Drug Team, Lincoln County Narcotics Team, Lane County Interagency Narcotics Team, Tillamook Narcotics Team, OSP, Oregon Department of Justice, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Western States Information Network.

The investigation began in July. On Dec. 8, police in Douglas County stopped a drug transport vehicle en route to Polk County based on the ongoing investigation. Inside, they found 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine, a pound of heroin, and a pound of unidentified powder.

Two suspects inside the vehicle were taken into custody and lodged in the Douglas County jail, Sergio Gustavo Pineda-Villanueva, 23, and Faliciano Ayala-Cardenas, 31.

Both are on immigration holds on charges of racketeering, and distribution of meth and heroin.

Two other suspected ring members were arrested in December, authorities said.Independence police arrested Roberto Ruiz-Sandoval, 42, of Independence on a DUII charge Dec. 1. Ruiz-Sandoval, now faces charges of racketeering and conspiring to deliver meth, and is held in lieu of $6.7 million bail. Ruiz-Sandoval is held in lieu of $6.7 million bail.

Twenty-two-year-old Lisandro Rangel-Garcia, of Independence, was arrested on Dec. 20, for violation of post-prison supervision on first degree burglary and a Marion County violation for failing to appear for driving under the influence. He is currently lodged in Polk County jail on a single racketeering count, one count of conspiring to deliver cocaine and five counts of conspiring to deliver meth.

Lisandro Rangel-Garcia is also in custody on $6.7 million bail.
The eleven arrested Wednesday on assorted racketeering, conspiracy and heroin and meth charges were:

Juan Jose Virelas-Solorzano 34, of Independence
Noralba Virelas-Pineda, 32, Independence
Noe Nunez-Manzo, 28, of Independence
Jose Bertin Cruz-Estrada, 22, of Independence
Collene Amelia Walker, 37, of Independence
Raul Megel Rodriquez, 29, of Independence
Brenda Diaz-Diaz, 21, of Keizer
Lisandro Rangel-Garcia, 22, of Independence
Roberto Ruiz-Sandoval, 42, of Independence
Efrain Aispuro-Carrasco, 44, of Independence
Rafael Telliz-Solorzano, 38, Independence

Bail amounts ranged from $40,000 to $6.7 million.

In addition to the arrests, police seized two firearms, three vehicles, several computers, and half an ounce of methamphetamine.

Four minor children, the children of Juan Jose Virelas-Solorzano and Noralba Virelas-Pineda, were placed in foster care.

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