44 Pounds of Meth, 50 Guns Seized in Southwest WA Bust

More than 44 pounds of methamphetamine, over 50 firearms, and $50,000 in cash were seized today in a sweeping takedown of a Southwest Washington drug distribution ring. The operation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WESTNET), culminated in the arrest of 19 individuals tied to the trafficking network stretching from Arizona to the Olympic Peninsula.

Law enforcement executed 24 search warrants across Washington and Arizona, searching more than 20 vehicles in connection with the investigation. The operation, which began in February 2014, has already netted prior seizures of over 5 pounds of meth and $28,000 in illicit proceeds. Today’s haul marks one of the largest single meth seizures in recent state history.

Those arrested 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; and KAREN KENMIR, 55 of Shelton, Washington.

A nineteenth defendant, GERARDO ENRIQUE FLORES, 26, of Chula Vista, California, was arrested in California and will appear on a criminal complaint in the Southern District of California. All defendants face federal charges related to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, with penalties that could carry life sentences under federal drug laws.

The arrests and searches were conducted by a multi-agency task force under the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, which targets high-level drug traffickers through coordinated federal and state efforts. Participating agencies include Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (TNET), Lewis County JNET, Vancouver Police, Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Thurston Narcotics Team (TNT), Lakewood Police, Washington State Patrol, Shelton Police, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET), Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Bremerton Police, King County Sheriff’s Office, Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET), and others.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marci L. Ellsworth and C. Andrew Colasurdo in the Western District of Washington. Initial appearances for the defendants are scheduled for today and tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. The charges in the indictment are allegations only; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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