Miriam Suarez-Contreras, Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy, Nevada 2019

Thirteen Defendants Indicted for Large-Scale Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

Miriam Elizabeth Suarez-Contreras, the lead defendant in a 30-count indictment in connection to a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy, was arraigned yesterday in federal court, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

According to the indictment, Suarez-Contreras, aka "Ella" and "Liz," 38, a Mexican national, and 12 other defendants were charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Suarez-Contreras was also charged with 16 counts; Ramiro Ramirez-Barajas was charged with eight counts; Roberto Blancas-Mata was charged with six counts; Jose Guillermo Tello-Albarran was charged with two counts; and Rahdsma Henderson was charged with one count, all for distribution of methamphetamine. The defendants allegedly conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine throughout Nevada from a date unknown to April 17, 2019.

The defendants charged with this large-scale conspiracy include Suarez-Contreras, Ramirez-Barajas, Blancas-Mata, Tello-Albarran, and Henderson, as well as Rahdsma Henderson, aka "Weezy," 41, of Las Vegas; Stephen Lloyd, 38, of Las Vegas; Charles Parr, aka "Charles Magnuson," 60, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Doug Stumpf, 55, of Henderson; Brian Scarborough, 43, of Henderson; Renea Barnes, aka "Renea Valdez," 50, of Las Vegas; Quentin Armstrong, 41, of Sandy Valley, Nevada; Cipriano Pineda-Acedo, 49, of Las Vegas; Martha Pedraza-Zamora, 40, of Las Vegas, and Jose Guillermo Tello-Albarran, 32, of Las Vegas.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment charging the 13 defendants for their involvement in the large-scale conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Suarez-Contreras and Ramirez-Barajas have been previously removed from the United States for unlawful entry.

The case was investigated by the Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Schiff is prosecuting this case. A jury trial was scheduled for July 29, 2019. If convicted, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/pr/thirteen-defendants-indicted-large-scale-methamphetamine-trafficking-conspiracy