Feds Indict 30 Accused Meth Dealers, Conspirators in Jonesboro Area
By: Joey Hollingsworth
Updated: September 12, 2012
The DEA announced a federal indictment against 30 people in the Jonesboro area in connection to a meth distribution ring.
According to a news release issued by the US Department of Justice, 29 of the 30 defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute, or posses with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of "a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine."
The Department of Justice says 27 of the defendants have been detained, while Sergio Lopez-Gonzoles, Oscar Garcia-Munoz, and Julio Cesar Figuero-Garcia remain at large. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these individuals is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency.
Other charges in the indictment range from distributing methamphetamine on multiple occasions, possessing with intent to distribute, concealing and failing to report a felony, and using a telephone to commit, cause or facilitate the methamphetamine conspiracy.
"This is an important day for the Jonesboro community," says William Bryant, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Field Division of the DEA. "Credit is due to the diligent investigative work of DEA agents, Jonesboro Police Department and the Craighead County Sheriff's office, with assistance from the Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's office."
The 29 defendants charged with conspiring to distribute, or posses with intent to distribute, 500 grams of meth face a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
Distribution of or possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of meth carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Concealing and failing to report a felony carries a maximum three-year prison sentence, and using a telephone in the conspiracy is punishable by a maximum four-year prison sentence for each count.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration,
the Jonesboro Police Department, and the Craighead County Sheriff's Office. Assistance was
also provided by the Prosecutor's office of the Second Judicial District. Agencies assisting with
the arrests were the Arkansas State Police, the United States Marshal Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arkansas National Guard and Independence County Sheriff's Office.
Below is a list of those listed in the indictment:
CAPTURED:
Javier Hernandez-Riveros
Jose Carmelo-Islas
Antonio Ventura-Fuentes
Samuel Ventura-Fuentes
Jose (aka Jesus) Cruz
Sheila Islas
Misty Polston
Marco Antonio Martinez
Felipe Ortiz
Jaime Alvarez
Enoc Garcia
Jose Luis Fernandez-Galvan
Stephanie Lynn Gonzalez
William Jeffrey Long, Sr.
Michael Thomas McGuinnes
Lloyd Hart
Brian Gilmer
Mike Prestidge
Oscar Moreno
Blanca Fuentes
Vanessa Gomez
Glen Barshaw
Jeffrey Holman
Paul Summers
George Ezell
Jeffrey Wheeler
Matthew Andrews
AT LARGE:
Sergio Lopez-Gonzales
Oscar Garcia-Munoz
Julio Cesar (aka Carlos Ivan) Figuero-Garcia
According to a news release issued by the US Department of Justice, 29 of the 30 defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute, or posses with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of "a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine."
The Department of Justice says 27 of the defendants have been detained, while Sergio Lopez-Gonzoles, Oscar Garcia-Munoz, and Julio Cesar Figuero-Garcia remain at large. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these individuals is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency.
Other charges in the indictment range from distributing methamphetamine on multiple occasions, possessing with intent to distribute, concealing and failing to report a felony, and using a telephone to commit, cause or facilitate the methamphetamine conspiracy.
"This is an important day for the Jonesboro community," says William Bryant, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Field Division of the DEA. "Credit is due to the diligent investigative work of DEA agents, Jonesboro Police Department and the Craighead County Sheriff's office, with assistance from the Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's office."
The 29 defendants charged with conspiring to distribute, or posses with intent to distribute, 500 grams of meth face a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
Distribution of or possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of meth carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Concealing and failing to report a felony carries a maximum three-year prison sentence, and using a telephone in the conspiracy is punishable by a maximum four-year prison sentence for each count.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration,
the Jonesboro Police Department, and the Craighead County Sheriff's Office. Assistance was
also provided by the Prosecutor's office of the Second Judicial District. Agencies assisting with
the arrests were the Arkansas State Police, the United States Marshal Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arkansas National Guard and Independence County Sheriff's Office.
Below is a list of those listed in the indictment:
CAPTURED:
Javier Hernandez-Riveros
Jose Carmelo-Islas
Antonio Ventura-Fuentes
Samuel Ventura-Fuentes
Jose (aka Jesus) Cruz
Sheila Islas
Misty Polston
Marco Antonio Martinez
Felipe Ortiz
Jaime Alvarez
Enoc Garcia
Jose Luis Fernandez-Galvan
Stephanie Lynn Gonzalez
William Jeffrey Long, Sr.
Michael Thomas McGuinnes
Lloyd Hart
Brian Gilmer
Mike Prestidge
Oscar Moreno
Blanca Fuentes
Vanessa Gomez
Glen Barshaw
Jeffrey Holman
Paul Summers
George Ezell
Jeffrey Wheeler
Matthew Andrews
AT LARGE:
Sergio Lopez-Gonzales
Oscar Garcia-Munoz
Julio Cesar (aka Carlos Ivan) Figuero-Garcia
