Sioux City, IA (KICD)--A large Northwest Iowa meth trafficking network with ties to Mexico has been dismantled.
U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth says that 23 were arrested in connection with the bust. The dealers would get the meth from a Mexican source in Omaha and sell the drug on the streets in the Spencer, Iowa Great Lakes, and Storm Lake areas. Over six pounds of crystal meth at a street value of over $275,000, $25,000 in cash, five vehicles worth over $39,000, and four firearms were seized.
Sentencing was performed in U.S District Court. Those from Spencer receiving prison time include 25-year-old Wesley Burrow and 26-year-old Eder Noe Sosa-Jiminez for 180 months, 28-year-old Orlando Escobar-Quinitanilla for 168 months, 39-year-old Rolando Maza Quiroz for 129 months, 30-year-old Elio Marin-Torres for 120 months, and 21-year-old Leandro Cervantes-Murillo for 79 months. Storm Lake residents include 29-year-old Moises Gonzalez for 260 months, 29-year-old Joel Aguirre for 235 months, 24-year-old Amie Aguirre for 126 months, and 28-year-old Eric Sandoval for 120 months. 27-year-old Todd Funderman of Cleghorn was the final area resident and was sentenced to 39 months in prison. Overall 21 were sentenced to prison time with two turned over to federal authorities for deportation. Seven will be turned over for deportation once their sentence is complete.
Local agencies involved in the investigation include the Sheriff's Offices in Clay, Jackson and O'Brien counties, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, and Jackson Police, and the Clay, Buena Vista, and Dickinson County Attorney's Offices.
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