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Multi-agency investigation leads to 16 arrests in bust of meth ring
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| DPS spokewoman Tela Mange speaks at a press conference Wendesday afternoon to announce the arrest of 16 individuals believed to be involved in a methamphetamene manufacturing ring. Photo by Gary Rhodes 12/03/08 |
'It's such an addictive drug and fairly available. It'll continue to be a problem.'
By Audrie Palmer
Staff Writer
'It's such an addictive drug and fairly available. It'll continue to be a problem.'
Eight men and eight women ranging in age from 24 to 56 years old were arrested Wednesday morning by Permian Basin law enforcement for their alleged involvement in the local manufacturing of methamphetamine.
The arrests came after a two-year investigation led by the Texas Department of Public Safety in collaboration with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals and the Odessa, Monahans and Midland police departments.
According to officials, the 16 arrested were mostly from Odessa and Monahans and had been purchasing large amounts of medicines with the drugs ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and/or norpseudoephedrine at pharmacies in the Midland, Odessa, Lubbock and Big Spring areas over the last two years.
Those three drugs — more commonly found in over-the-counter cold medications like Sudafed and Actifed — are the main ingredients used in the making of meth.
DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said that the group had purchased more than 10 pounds of the medicines and “cooked” about seven pounds of the drug.
In the Permian Basin, narcotics investigators say meth carries an approximate street value of $100 per gram. The seven pounds of the drug the group had manufactured was worth more than $200,000, said authorities.
Mange said several of the individuals arrested were involved or had connections with the Aryan Brotherhood, the Aryan Circle and their associates.
“Our concern is that these types of crime get shut down as soon as possible,” she said.
Each in the group faces federal charges of possession of a List 1 chemical with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a felony which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Some may also be charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine greater than 50 grams, a felony which carries a prison sentence of 10 years to life.
Two of the individuals arrested Wednesday were also in possession of the drug and will face additional charges for that as well.
They were all being held in the custody of U.S. Marshals as of press time and will be arraigned in federal court today at 1:30 p.m.
In August 2005, federal and state laws began requiring anyone buying an item that contains any of the three over-the counter medicines to show a government-issued identification card — like a driver’s license, ID card or state inmate card — and pharmacies that sell those medicines containing the drugs are required to keep a record of the name, address, card number, date, type of medicine sold and quantity.
Investigators said the sixteen arrested Wednesday had gone to various pharmacies around the area and purchased the maximum amount of cold medicines at each place.
Authorities then were able to go to local pharmacies and match names to their purchase lists. There were several who had made purchases at different locations within only a day or two.
“If you think nobody will ever notice, DPS and other law enforcement agencies are noticing,” Assistant U.S. District Attorney John Klassen said. “None of these folks have that bad a cold.
“If you’re buying and you think that you’re clever, you’re not that clever because we’re all watching.”
Authorities were not certain how much equipment was recovered in Wednesday’s meth bust because they were still in the process of sorting through all the materials as of press time.
Two labs though were confiscated Wednesday morning and Mange said it was definite the group was making methamphetamines.
One danger, she said, is that meth labs can be set up anywhere — in apartments or hotel rooms — and are dangerous because they have the possibility of blowing up or leaving residue behind for those individuals who may come in behind them.
While the arrests were made throughout the Permian Basin, the danger of meth still hits close to home.
“‘Is there meth in Midland?’ There probably is. But with the narcotics unit fully staffed, they’re doing what they can,” MPD interim chief Price Robinson said.
MPD narcotics investigator Lt. Seth Herman believes any amount of meth in a community is a problem.
About 5-10 years ago, he said there was a large influx of meth labs in the area where officers were constantly having to take them out one after the other. Over the years though, he said, the department hasn’t seen as many labs because of the importation of the drug from Mexico where it is now mass-produced where ingredients are easier to obtain.
While meth is a leading problem and one of the more dangerous drugs in Midland, Herman said cocaine and marijuana are still very prevalent in the area. Over the last few years, an influx of black tar heroin also has been seen.
Between January and June of this year, MPD officers have made 150 arrests in the Tall City in relation to extended narcotics investigations.
But because there are quite a few people still abusing meth, Herman said it’s a problem that won’t be going away anytime soon.
“It’s such an addictive drug and fairly available. It’ll continue to be a problem,” he said.
The sixteen individuals are as follows:
David Alan Aldridge, 49
James Perry Averitt Jr., 38
Brittany Rene Bacon, 24
Clifford Wayne Baxter, 38
LaWanda Bradley Calvert, 49
Troy Chris Cantrell, 52
Misty Dawn Crow, 33
Tanya Sue Haynes, 35
Teresa Lane Merritt, 46
Julia Lynn Milburn, 46
Elizabeth Ann Parada, 39
Michelle Faye Preston, 27
Michael Glyn Rains, 56
Michael Joe Smithee, 52
Robert Allen Thompson, 52
Kenneth Dale Tracy, 51
Audrie Palmer can be reached at palmer@mrt.com.
Eight men and eight women ranging in age from 24 to 56 years old were arrested Wednesday morning by Permian Basin law enforcement for their alleged involvement in the local manufacturing of methamphetamine.
The arrests came after a two-year investigation led by the Texas Department of Public Safety in collaboration with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals and the Odessa, Monahans and Midland police departments.
According to officials, the 16 arrested were mostly from Odessa and Monahans and had been purchasing large amounts of medicines with the drugs ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and/or norpseudoephedrine at pharmacies in the Midland, Odessa, Lubbock and Big Spring areas over the last two years.
Those three drugs — more commonly found in over-the-counter cold medications like Sudafed and Actifed — are the main ingredients used in the making of meth.
DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said that the group had purchased more than 10 pounds of the medicines and “cooked” about seven pounds of the drug.
In the Permian Basin, narcotics investigators say meth carries an approximate street value of $100 per gram. The seven pounds of the drug the group had manufactured was worth more than $200,000, said authorities.
Mange said several of the individuals arrested were involved or had connections with the Aryan Brotherhood, the Aryan Circle and their associates.
“Our concern is that these types of crime get shut down as soon as possible,” she said.
Each in the group faces federal charges of possession of a List 1 chemical with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a felony which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Some may also be charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine greater than 50 grams, a felony which carries a prison sentence of 10 years to life.
Two of the individuals arrested Wednesday were also in possession of the drug and will face additional charges for that as well.
They were all being held in the custody of U.S. Marshals as of press time and will be arraigned in federal court today at 1:30 p.m.
In August 2005, federal and state laws began requiring anyone buying an item that contains any of the three over-the counter medicines to show a government-issued identification card — like a driver’s license, ID card or state inmate card — and pharmacies that sell those medicines containing the drugs are required to keep a record of the name, address, card number, date, type of medicine sold and quantity.
Investigators said the sixteen arrested Wednesday had gone to various pharmacies around the area and purchased the maximum amount of cold medicines at each place.
Authorities then were able to go to local pharmacies and match names to their purchase lists. There were several who had made purchases at different locations within only a day or two.
“If you think nobody will ever notice, DPS and other law enforcement agencies are noticing,” Assistant U.S. District Attorney John Klassen said. “None of these folks have that bad a cold.
“If you’re buying and you think that you’re clever, you’re not that clever because we’re all watching.”
Authorities were not certain how much equipment was recovered in Wednesday’s meth bust because they were still in the process of sorting through all the materials as of press time.
Two labs though were confiscated Wednesday morning and Mange said it was definite the group was making methamphetamines.
One danger, she said, is that meth labs can be set up anywhere — in apartments or hotel rooms — and are dangerous because they have the possibility of blowing up or leaving residue behind for those individuals who may come in behind them.
While the arrests were made throughout the Permian Basin, the danger of meth still hits close to home.
“‘Is there meth in Midland?’ There probably is. But with the narcotics unit fully staffed, they’re doing what they can,” MPD interim chief Price Robinson said.
MPD narcotics investigator Lt. Seth Herman believes any amount of meth in a community is a problem.
About 5-10 years ago, he said there was a large influx of meth labs in the area where officers were constantly having to take them out one after the other. Over the years though, he said, the department hasn’t seen as many labs because of the importation of the drug from Mexico where it is now mass-produced where ingredients are easier to obtain.
While meth is a leading problem and one of the more dangerous drugs in Midland, Herman said cocaine and marijuana are still very prevalent in the area. Over the last few years, an influx of black tar heroin also has been seen.
Between January and June of this year, MPD officers have made 150 arrests in the Tall City in relation to extended narcotics investigations.
But because there are quite a few people still abusing meth, Herman said it’s a problem that won’t be going away anytime soon.
“It’s such an addictive drug and fairly available. It’ll continue to be a problem,” he said.
The sixteen individuals are as follows:
David Alan Aldridge, 49
James Perry Averitt Jr., 38
Brittany Rene Bacon, 24
Clifford Wayne Baxter, 38
LaWanda Bradley Calvert, 49
Troy Chris Cantrell, 52
Misty Dawn Crow, 33
Tanya Sue Haynes, 35
Teresa Lane Merritt, 46
Julia Lynn Milburn, 46
Elizabeth Ann Parada, 39
Michelle Faye Preston, 27
Michael Glyn Rains, 56
Michael Joe Smithee, 52
Robert Allen Thompson, 52
Kenneth Dale Tracy, 51
Audrie Palmer can be reached at palmer@mrt.com.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
just little ol me wrote on Dec 4, 2008 9:57 AM:
" If you think nobody will ever notice, DPS and other law enforcement agencies are noticing, Assistant U.S. District Attorney John Klassen said. None of these folks have that bad a cold."
Big Brother is watching.... "
Big Brother is watching.... "
justsayno wrote on Dec 4, 2008 9:59 AM:
" Its a shame the ages of these people....by now they should have some kind of respect for human life...I hope they are put away for the maximum amount of time...I will never understand why people just can't say no...this world would be a much better place with out drugs and the addicts it produces "
I RAN CONTRA wrote on Dec 4, 2008 1:09 PM:
" " Its a shame the ages of these people....
GWB IS 62
"by now they should have some kind of respect for human life..."
ONE MILLION HUMAN LIVES LOST IN AN ILLEGAL WAR
"I hope they are put away for the maximum amount of time..."
TOO LATE TO IMPEACH
"I will never understand why people just can't say no..."
GWB INTO COCAINE AT 26
"this world would be a much better place with out drugs and the addicts it produces "
AMEN "
GWB IS 62
"by now they should have some kind of respect for human life..."
ONE MILLION HUMAN LIVES LOST IN AN ILLEGAL WAR
"I hope they are put away for the maximum amount of time..."
TOO LATE TO IMPEACH
"I will never understand why people just can't say no..."
GWB INTO COCAINE AT 26
"this world would be a much better place with out drugs and the addicts it produces "
AMEN "
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federal reserve wrote on Dec 4, 2008 8:25 AM: