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April 19, 2012
Austin teacher arrested, charged with marijuana possession
An Austin High School teacher has been charged with possession of marijuana after investigators found it in his home, which is near an elementary school, according to court documents.
Ian Kristopher Grayson was put on administrative leave this week. He is a geography teacher at Austin High School, where he has been teaching since 2009. He previously taught at AISD’s International High School from to 2006 to 2009.
Grayson has been charged with possession of marijuana in a drug-free zone because he lives within 1,000 feet of Odom Elementary School. According to the court documents, investigators found 0.33 ounces of marijuana and some paraphernalia in his home in the 6000 block of Leisure Run Road last week while they were executing a search warrant related to an ongoing AISD criminal case.
A district official would not give any details on that case because it is still under investigation.
No drugs were found on school property, officials said.
Updated at 8 p.m. for minor editing, additional attribution.
February 24, 2012
Elgin woman accused of using children to get prescription drugs
An Elgin woman is accused of exploiting her three children after she used them to get prescription pills, according to an arrest affidavit.
From Sept. 16, 2011, through Jan. 12, Jessica Thacker’s three children were given 24 separate prescriptions for hydrocodone — 2,030 pills — but drug screenings indicate the children never took the medicine, the affidavit said.
According to the affidavit, police met with Jessica Thacker’s husband, Todd Thacker, in November. He showed police numerous receipts for prescription medications, including hydrocodone, and told police that his 10-year-old daughter, 11-year-old son and 14-year-old stepson were not taking the painkiller, the affidavit said.
Police later checked with a Walgreen’s pharmacy technician, who told them Jessica Thacker was the only parent to drop off or pick up prescriptions for the three children, the affidavit said.
The three children were given drug tests that indicated they had not taken hydrocodone within the past 90 days, according to the affidavit.
Jessica Thacker faces charges of exploitation of a child, a third-degree felony. She is in the Williamson County Jail and her bail has been set at $35,000.
January 6, 2012
Man charged with heroin possession after traffic stop in San Marcos
A 25-year-old Laredo man is in jail after San Marcos police say they found eight pounds of heroin in a cardboard box in the back seat of his car during a routine traffic stop Thursday.
Mario Rodriguez was traveling north on I-35 in a 2006 Ford Mustang when police stopped him. According to the release, officers found that Rodriguez was driving with a suspended license and arrested him.
As officers inventoried the contents of the vehicle they discovered approximately eight pounds of black tar heroin — with a street value of more than $360,000 — hidden in a cardboard box in the back seat,according to the release.
Sgt. Wade Parham, Commander of the Hays County Narcotics Task Force, said in the news release that he is uncertain of Rodriguez’s ultimate destination and doesn’t know if Rodriguez was planning on delivering the drugs locally or was going to continue to smuggle them to somewhere farther north.
Rodriguez was jailed at the Hays County Law Enforcement Center, where he remains under $252,500 bail. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance of over 400 grams with intent to deliver, a felony punishable by life imprisonment or for a term of not more than 99 years or less than 15 years, and a fine not to exceed $250,000.
November 30, 2011
Autopsy finds woman found dead in duct had drugs in system
Jamie Minor, the Austin woman found dead after she became trapped in the ductwork of a downtown restaurant in June, died with detectable amounts of the psychoactive stimulant MDPV in her skeletal muscle and liver tissue, according to an amended autopsy report released this week.
MDPV, or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, is believed to have been sold as a designer drug popular in clubs since the mid-2000s. Last month, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued an emergency ban on MDPV and two other synthetic stimulants used to make so-called “bath salts” sold in head shops.
The amended report did not change the cause of death, which was hyperthermia.
Minor, 26, was last seen in late May and was believed to have entered the ductwork in an attempt to get into Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille. The report said the temperature in the ductwork was about 115 degrees.
November 21, 2011
Police: Driver leads police on chase after falling asleep in intersection
A man is in custody after police said he passed out in car his while stopped at an intersection, was woken up by an officer and led them on a brief chase, according to an arrest affidavit.
About 3:30 a.m. Thursday, an officer saw a car stopped in the left turn lane on the southbound Interstate 35 frontage road and Airport Boulevard through two green light cycles, the affidavit said. An officer approached the vehicle and saw a man, later identified as Paul Vallejo, passed out with his foot on the brake and the car in drive, the affidavit said.
Another officer arrived and parked his car in front of Vallejo’s with his emergency lights on when the first officer knocked on Vallejo’s window to wake him up, the document said. Vallejo reversed, hit a police car and nearly struck an officer, then turned left, away from the police car in front of him, and drove down the southbound frontage road, the affidavit said.
Vallejo drove about a mile south to East 38½ street where he turned left and crashed into a concrete barrier, the affidavit said. Officers followed Vallejo on foot and arrested him with their Tasers pointed at him, the affidavit said.
Vallejo, 32, is in Travis County Correctional Complex in Del Valle on three felony charges with bail set at $120,000, according to jail records.
Vallejo was charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, a first-degree felony, evading arrest, a state jail felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony, for some crack cocaine found in his car, the affidavit said.
Permalink | Categories: Assault, High speed chase, drugs
November 15, 2011
Austin couple charged in FedEx drug scheme
An Austin couple is facing felony charges following a scheme to deliver drugs through a FedEx package to a South Austin rental home this month, according to several arrest affidavits.
Gino Angulo, 33, and Lauren Ann Ferrier, 32, are facing felony drug and marijuana possession charges, according to the affidavits released in recent days. Both were booked Thursday and released on bail days later, said Roger Wade, spokesman for the Travis County sheriff’s office.
This month, investigators working undercover saw a FedEx package delivered to a home at 2006 La Casa Drive near South Lamar Boulevard, the affidavit said. The package was left at the door, where a note read: “To whom it may concern: Please leave any deliveries on the front porch. Thanks FedEx.”
Before the undercover operation was conducted, a package from Berkeley, Calif., slated for delivery to the same home was flagged by FedEx workers for a suspicious odor and found to contain more than 20 packages of marijuana, the affidavits said.
A man later identified as Angulo was seen retrieving the package, the affidavits said. Investigators believe the home on La Casa Drive was a rental used by Angulo and Ferrier to receive drugs through FedEx delivery, the affidavits said.
Medical marijuana, hashish and prescription pills were seized in law enforcement searches conducted on two homes connected to the couple, including the La Casa Drive rental home, the affidavits said. Officials estimate that $300,000 in medical marijuana, or 50 pounds, were seized in the searches, the affidavits said.
Angulo, who was released Monday, faces $75,000 in bail for five drug-related charges, while Ferrier, released Saturday, faces $50,000 for two felony drug-related charges, Wade said.
October 27, 2011
Police find marijuana in home after seeing growing equipment in open garage
A man is charged with two felonies after a Sheriff’s deputy saw hydroponic marijuana growing equipment in the man’s open garage, according to arrest affidavits filed Wednesday.
On July 15 the officer passed by a home in Southwest Austin where the officer believed the resident was growing and selling marijuana, the affidavits said. The home’s garage door was open, letting the officer see hydroponic growing equipment that prompted him to request a search warrant and enter the home later that day, the affidavits said.
Alvin Torres, 28, was charged with possession of marijuana and manufacture of a controlled substance after the officer found about 4.2 ounces of marijuana and less than 0.1 ounces of a frozen substance later identified as hashish, the affidavits said.
Torres was charged on Oct. 17, 12 days after the Travis County Sheriff’s department received test results confirming the smaller quantity was hashish, the affidavits said.
Torres is not in Travis County jail as of Wednesday night, according to jail records.
October 5, 2011
Police: Man growing 112 marijuana plants
Authorities on Monday charged a man who they said was growing 112 marijuana plants inside his South Austin home, court documents said.
Police searched Martin Guerra’s home on Curlew Drive near Cowan Elementary School on Sept. 15 and found about 10 pounds of pot being grown, along with lights, fans, filters and other materials used for hydroponic growing of the plants, according to arrest affidavits.
Busts averaging that size have been happening monthly, Austin Police Cmdr. Donald Baker said.
Officers also found a jar full with more than 228 grams of what later tested positive for liquid tetrahydrocannabinols, or THC, the main active chemical in marijuana, and less than an ounce of dry pot, the affidavit said.
Guerra was not at the home during the search, affidavits said.
The Travis County district attorney charged Guerra with possession of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony, and possession of marijuana, a third-degree felony.
“Those 112 plants come out on the low end of street value to be $100,000,” Baker said.
Hydroponic operations can have four to six crops a year, he added.
“They are high potency — and make more pot plants — and that’s why the street value is so high,” Baker said.
Guerra was not in custody as of Tuesday afternoon.
(Photo: Picture of some of the marijuana plants seized. Courtesy of Austin Police.)
August 9, 2011
Two held in Hays County Jail on marijuana charges
A traffic stop in Uhland Thursday landed two men in jail on marijuana possession charges.
Hays County Sheriff’s Deputy Jay Wheeler had stopped a Ford pickup at the intersection of Highway 21 and Gristmill Road when the driver, 36-year-old Pedro Alvarado-Martinez, led deputies on a short chase, authorities said.
Alvarado-Martinez turned onto a private driveway, crashed through a wire fence and ran from his vehicle on foot before officers apprehended him, sheriff’s officials said.
About 260 pounds of marijuana was found packaged in brown wrapping tape in duffel bags in the truck, according to the sheriff’s department. Both Alvarado-Martinez and 34-year-old Fernando Lopez Rivera are charged with possession of marijuana over 50 pounds and under 2,000 pounds, a second-degree felony. Alvarado-Martinez is also charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle, a state jail felony.
Both are being held at the county jail. Rivera’s bond is set at $250,000. Alvarado-Martinez’s bonds are set at $250,000 and $25,000 for the state jail felony.
August 2, 2011
Marble Falls woman charged with meth possession
FROM THE BURNET COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:
On August 01, 2011, Investigators with the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit and the Marble Falls Police Department executed a Search Warrant at 1102 Avenue “K” apartment number 502, The River Crest Apartments, in the City of Marble Falls, Texas. The investigation started after investigator’s received information concerning narcotics trafficking at that location and that a 4 year old child lived in the apartment.
The search recovered a quantity of Methamphetamine and a quantity of packaged Marijuana, packaging materials and a digital scale consistent with the sales of narcotics. Numerous items of drug paraphernalia were located throughout the apartment. The four year old child was present in the apartment at the time the search warrant was executed. The child was not injured and was released to Child Protective Services.
The apartment was occupied by one female resident identified as Lekisha Nashue Pegg, age 28, of Marble Falls and an adult male who was identified and released at the scene. Pegg was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1 more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams with the intent to deliver. Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1 more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams with the intent to deliver is punishable by confinement jail for not less than 2 years and no more than 20 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Pegg was previously arrested by the Special Operations Unit in June for the same offense and was free on Bond when this offense occurred. She remains in jail with the bond on the current charge set at $100,000.00. The investigation is ongoing at this time
July 21, 2011
35 arrested in La Familia crackdown in Central Texas
Authorities arrested 25 suspected members of the violent Mexican crime cartel La Familia on Wednesday, capping a 20-month-long series of investigations across the country dubbed Project Delirium. Another 10 people have been arrested in the past several months, officials said.
Nationally, 1,985 people were arrested, and officials seized $62 million in cash, more than a ton of methamphetamine and more than two tons of cocaine, the Drug Enforcement Administration said. It was the second nationwide attack targeting La Familia, said Greg Thrash, who heads the DEA’s Austin office.
The DEA worked with 20 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and hundreds of agents to make Wednesday’s arrests in Central Texas, Thrash said. Nine other suspects remain at large. Authorities seized about $150,000 in cash, several pounds of methamphetamine and several pounds of cocaine Wednesday, Thrash said.
June 27, 2011
Man charged with drug possession in Hays Co. traffic stop
FROM THE HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT:
On June 26, 2011 at 3:15pm The Hays County Sheriff’s Office received information about a grey BMW that was carrying narcotics. Deputy Michael Hipolito and DPS State Trooper Erich Newman observed a vehicle matching that description and initiated a traffic stop in the 9400 blk. of US HWY 290 E for two traffic violations. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office K9 handler responded to the scene. The Officers on scene searched the vehicle.
As a result 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of Cocaine and 4.5 lbs (2 kg) of “ICE” methamphetamines were seized. There were no other occupants in the vehicle, and the vehicle is now in the Sheriff’s Office custody.
Davis, Vincent Lamont 05/19/1974 was arrested and transported to the Hays County Jail. Charged with Manufacture / Deliver of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 >= 400 g, a First Degree Felony.
Sheriff Gary Cutler stated that through follow up investigation the narcotics were determined to be headed to the Austin Metro area for distribution. He is confident that with the addition of the second K9 service animal, who is scheduled to arrive in July, that the Hays county Sheriff’s Office will be a facilitating agency in the fight to keep drugs off the streets of our communities
March 15, 2011
2,000 pounds of marijuana seized in Caldwell County
About 2,000 pounds of marijuana was seized in Caldwell County on Monday after officials stopped a truck pulling a trailer for a traffic violation.
Officials said the Ford pickup, driven by Jorge Flores, 32, was stopped by Caldwell County Sheriff’s deputies about 5 p.m. on Interstate 10. Flores was acting nervously and could not give officials an exact destination, officials said. A K9 unit was requested and the dog alerted deputies to something inside the trailer, which was seized.
Officials said they found the marijuana inside a fake pipe in the trailer. The marijuana was valued at $1.5 million, according to the sheriff’s department.
Flores was charged with felony possession of marijuana and faces up to 99 years in prison if he is convicted. Officials said Flores had two previous arrests for marijuana possession.
Caldwell County Sheriff Daniel Law said this was the largest narcotics seizure in the county’s history.
January 7, 2011
Police: 72-year-old charged with 244 balloons of heroin
FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
The APD Region IV, Regional Tactical Support Unit while conducting an ongoing narcotics investigation, arrested Robert Ramos Perez, Hispanic Male (D. O. B. 10-17- 38). Perez is charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a First Degree Felony. At the time of his arrest, Perez was in possession of 244 balloons of heroin (gross weight 91 grams) with a street value of approximately $5000.
December 17, 2010
Leander man charged with stolen firearm, meth possession
FROM THE BURNET COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:
On Thursday , 12/16/2010, officers from the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, Burnet County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Burnet Police Department and the Marble Falls Police Department Narcotics Unit with the assistance of Bertram Police Department, arrested 1 suspect in Bertram following investigation that led to a traffic stop and the seizure of a large quantity of Methamphetamine, US currency, and the recovery of a stolen firearm.
Johnathan Chase Rogers, a W/M age 26, of Leander, was charged with Theft of Firearm, a State Jail Felony, and Man Del of a Controlled Substance to wit: Methamphetamine, more than 4 gram but less than 200 grams, a 1st Degree Felony.
Johnathan C. Rogers was transported to the Burnet County Jail to await arraignment.
October 28, 2010
Man accused of trafficking meth from his apartment
FROM THE BURNET COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT:
On Wednesday, 10/27/2010, officers from the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, Burnet Police Department, Marble Falls Police Department Narcotics, and the Texas Department of Public Safety CID arrested George Russell Sanquist, age 46, for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine, more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams, a 1st degree Felony.
The arrest followed the execution of a search warrant at Sanquist’s residence located at 401 Buchanan Drive, Apartment 111 in the City of Burnet. The search warrant was obtained after officers received information that Sanquist was trafficking methamphetamine from his apartment.
Sanquist was placed in the Burnet County jail to await arraignment.
September 16, 2010
Williamson Co. authorities arrest man accused of possessing $1.7 million in meth
Williamson County Sheriff’s officials have arrested a man in what they say is the largest methamphetamine drug bust in the county’s history, officials said.
Deputies have charged William Silva, 27, with possession of a controlled substance, over 400 grams, a first degree felony punishable with between 15 years to life in prison, officials said. Silva was being held at the Williamson County Jail on Thursday with bail set at $400,000.
According to a arrest affidavit, a deputy pulled Silva over on Interstate 35, near Jarrell, about 4 p.m. on Wednesday partly for weaving between lanes.
After stopping, the deputy arrested Silva for driving with a suspended license, the affidavit said. A police dog brought in to search the vehicle later detected narcotics, and officers found 18 bundles, or 42 pounds, of methamphetamine inside of a false compartment in the floor of the vehicle, the affidavit said.
The amount of methamphetamine is worth about $1.7 million, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies: 42 pounds of meth found in car
FROM THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has arrested: William Joseph Silva (Date of birth 07-30-83)
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office stopped Mr. Silva’s 2000 Volkswagen Passat yesterday at approximately 4:00pm on Interstate 35. Deputies discovered approximately 42 pounds of methamphetamine in Mr. Silva’s vehicle. The estimated street value of this amount of methamphetamine is approximately $1.7 Million Dollars. Mr. Silva was taken into custody and is being held in the Williamson County Jail on $400,000 bail. Mr. Silva is a United States citizen living in Matamoras, Mexico.
This is considered to be the largest methamphetamine drug bust in the history of Williamson County.
August 28, 2010
Drug bust nets more than 500 grams of cocaine
A drug bust in East Austin netted 585 grams of cocaine found hidden in baby diapers, more than $15,000 in cash and charges against three men, according to an arrest affidavit filed Friday.
The men, Marco Hernandez-Alfaro, 28, Fredy Castillo, 26, and Maximino Madrid, 26, face a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a first degree felony, the affidavits said. All three were booked into Travis County jail Thursday and each face a $50,000 bail, according to jail records.
Austin Police received a tip that several men who lived in a condominium at the 2200 block of Cromwell Circle were distributing drugs, the affidavit said. The complex is located close to Wickersham Lane and Riverside Drive.
Police, with the assistance of a K9 unit, discovered a tally sheet tracking the amount of drugs sold by the group as well as cocaine wrapped in baby diapers and the cash in the condominium and a vehicle connected to one of the men, the affidavit said.
June 30, 2010
Burnet Co. man arrested for 3rd degree felony marijuana possession
FROM THE BURNET COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:
On Tuesday, June 29, 2010 Officers from the Burnet County Sheriffs Office Special Operations Unit, K-9 Unit, Tx. DPS CID agents, Burnet Police Department and Lampasas Police Department arrested 52 year old Gregory Robert Daponte for Possession of Marijuana, more than 4 ounces but less than 5 pounds, a State Jail Felony.
The arrest followed a traffic stop on US 281 at Park Road 4 south of Burnet on Tuesday evening. Officers followed up the initial arrest with a Search Warrant on Daponte’s residence, located at 2500 Co. Road 250 in Burnet County. An additional 12 pounds of Marijuana and $1000 dollars in currency were seized from the residence. Additional charges for Possession of Marijuana, more than 5 pounds but less than 50 pounds, a Third Degree Felony, are also pending on Daponte.
While at the residence, officers also discovered an area behind the house which contained a pit that is commonly used in the commission of cock fights. The investigation continues.
June 23, 2010
Man charged with selling marijuana on craigslist.org
Recent items listed for sale on craigslist.org: books, jewelry, cell phones — and marijuana.
Brett Lewis Lagrone posted an ad on the website and tried to sell marijuana, according to an arrest affidavit filed today.
An undercover narcotics officer took him up on the offer.
The ad’s title indiscretely read, “need that 420? - m4mw- 27 (183 and duval),” and the body of the ad read, “i got it, hit me up asap,” the affidavit said.
The officer responded to the ad on June 15, and within an hour, Lagrone gave away his identity when he replied via email, saying, “yes sir =)”, the affidavit said.
The 27-year-old was offering him “northern lights,” a type of indoor-grown marijuana that is pricier and more potent, the affidavit said.
Lagrone ran out of the drug before the officer could make face-to-face contact, but Lagrone promised he would contact the officer after he got more, the affidavit said.
Five days later, Lagrone texted the officer, telling him he had “silver cush,” which is another type of high-quality, indoor-grown marijuana, the affidavit said.
The two arranged a rendezvous on Monday at the Schlotzsky’s Deli located at 5105 Balcones Woods, affidavit.
After the transaction was complete, the officer sent out a prearranged arrest signal and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team arrested Lagrone, the affidavit said.
Lagrone was charged with delivery of marijuana with a bail of $8,000, the affidavit said.
May 5, 2010
2 Burnet residents charged with meth possession
FROM THE BURNET COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:
Sheriff Smith reports that on Tuesday, 05-04-2010, officers from the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit and Burnet Police Department arrested Samuel Jackson Slocomb and Carolyn McCoy Seitz, both of Burnet, after officers discovered a quantity of Methamphetamine in the vehicle they were operating.
Acting on a tip that the two would be in possession of the Methamphetamine, officers stopped the vehicle they were driving in the 600 block of W. Buchanan in the City of Burnet. Slocomb, age 51, was arrested and charged with a 2nd Degree Felony of Manufacture, Delivery of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1, more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams. Seitz, age 54, was arrested and charged with the 3rd Degree Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1, more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams. Also seized at the time of arrest was a 1993 Mazda Miata Convertible and $856.00 in cash.
Both subjects were transported to the Burnet County Jail to await arraignment on the charges.
April 23, 2010
Hays County seizes one of its largest pot busts
The Hays County Narcotics Task Force recovered 850 pounds of marijuana, one of its largest seizures ever, following an airport interdiction operation Wednesday evening out of the San Marcos airport, according to law enforcement officials.
The recovery occurred after the task force, which includes members from the Hays County sheriff’s office and the San Marcos Police Department, began tracking a plane flown into the San Marcos airport, said sheriff’s office spokesman Leroy Opiela.
They saw bags being loaded from the plane into a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban, Opiela said.
Joined by deputies from the sheriff’s office, a traffic stop was made on the vehicle sometime close to 11 p.m. Wednesday about five miles away on northbound Interstate 35 at the intersection of River Ridge Parkway, Opiela said.
“This is one of the bigger seizures ever made in Hays County,” Opiela said.
An investigation of the scene uncovered 16 large duffle bags filled with marijuana in the rear of the vehicle, officials said. A juvenile and two adult men were taken into custody, including the pilot of the plane, who is an air traffic controller from the New Braunfels airport, Opiela said.
The pilot, Joe Frank Corder, Jr., 64, of Wimberley, faces delivery of marijuana charges, a first-degree felony, Opiela said. Another man, Melvin Alexander Duran, 33, of Austin, who was driving the vehicle, faces a possession of marijuana charge, a second-degree felony, Opiela said.
The juvenile, whose name or age has not been released, was placed with juvenile detention, Opiela said.
Both adult men are in custody, and Corder is being held with bail set at $80,000, while Duran is being held on bail of $60,000, Opiela said.
Another major bust about two to three years ago netted 1,000 pounds of drugs, Opiela said. But since Opiela began working with the Hays County sheriff’s office 12 years ago, this would at least be the second-largest seizure during that time, he said.
April 9, 2010
Officials: Arrests net large amounts of pot, cocaine
UPDATE:This story has been corrected to give the correct ages for the people who have been arrested. The men are between the ages of 17 and 29.
The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested six men, including several teenagers, on felony possession of controlled substance charges Wednesday and recovered 300 pounds of marijuana while searching an apartment on Dessau Road just south of Parmer Lane, according to arrest affidavits.
The men, whose ages range from 17 to 29, were all “believed to be in the United States illegally from Mexico,” according to the arrest affidavits.
Officials said the apartment had been under surveillance for months. On Wednesday, troopers saw an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old leaving the apartments with a black trash bag that they had loaded into a 2006 Nissan Frontier, the arrest affidavit said.
Troopers then stopped the vehicle at an H.E.B. store at Interstate 35 and Parmer Lane, the arrest affidavit said. A search of the vehicle uncovered the black bag that contained three large bundles of marijuana, it said.
Police then searched the apartment, where they discovered more people and 51 small baggies of cocaine, the arrest affidavit said. There were also several grocery bags full of marijuana and a loaded pistol, the arrest affidavit said.
Police also searched the garage unit attached to the apartment and discovered several bundles, tubs and duffle bags containing marijuana and eight vehicle rims that appeared to once have contained marijuana, the arrest affidavit said.
There were also packing materials, knives, a digital scale and loose marijuana on the floor, the arrest affidavit said.
In all, about 300 pounds of marijuana were believed to have been recovered, according to the arrest affidavit.
The men, who are being held in the Travis County Jail, have been identified as:
Rodolfo Millen Ramirez, 17
Javier Sanchez, 18
Honorato Diaz Mondragon, 18
Efren Dias Aguilar, 24
Eleazar Aguilar Mondragon, 24
Javier Ugarte Benitez, 29.
Each is being held on $150,000 bail, records show.
March 29, 2010
Two men arrested in connection with Smithwick meth lab
FROM THE BURNET COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:
Sheriff W.T. Smith would like to report that on Friday, 03-26-10, officers from the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, DPS drug agents, Marble Falls Police Department, and Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force, arrested Kirby Mac Whitaker and Nelson Ray Guthrie after officers discovered a methamphetamine lab at a home near Smithwick.
Whitaker, age 38, and Guthrie, age 40 were both charged with Manufacture of a Controlled Substance, more than 200 grams but less than 400 grams, a 1st degree felony; Possession of certain chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, a 2nd degree Felony and Child Endangerment, a State Jail Felony. Bonds on the charges were set at $265,000.00 each. Guthrie was also wanted as a Parole violator by the State Board of Pardons and Parole.
Nelson Ray Guthrie
Kirby Mac Whitaker
November 2, 2009
Cocaine, stolen handgun seized in Friday arrest
A 29-year-old man is in the Travis County Jail today after deputies arrested him Friday morning and seized nearly three pounds of cocaine and two handguns — including a gun reported stolen in New Orleans, according to an affidavit filed today.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Department charged Ramon Zarate with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and theft of a firearm, both felonies, according to the affidavit.
His bail was set at $110,000, and the immigration authorities have also placed a hold on Zarate, the affidavit said.
Travis and Hays County deputies, acting on a Hays County warrant, gained entry to an apartment about 4 a.m. Friday in the 1800 block of East Stassney Lane, the affidavit said..
The deputies questioned Zarate, one of three men in the apartment, and Zarate told them he had purchased the cocaine in Mexico for $22,000.
Investigators confiscated a stolen .38-caliber revolver and a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun, the affidavit said.
