May 21, 2012
Dept of Justice - Four pounds of meth seized in Washington Co
GREENEVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- Six men were arrested Tuesday after a multi-agency task discovered four pounds of methamphetamine at a rural Washington Co. home, a Dept. of Justice spokesperson announced on Friday.
Five of the individuals hail from the Mexican town of Culiacan, DOJ spokesperson Sharry Dedman-Beard said, adding that all of them are currently being held on complaints related to their immigration status.
Three of the them, Jose Cruz Guevara-Cazarez, 55, Rosalva Guadalupe Robledo, 48, and Habraham Enrique Guevara, 26, currently live in Limestone, Tennessee; while the rest, Arnoldo Ayala Guevara, 49, Emilio Beltran Robeldo, 48,and Enrique Rivas, 33, are from Oklahoma City.
The six defendants made their first appearance in court on Wednesday and had their arraignments set for February 15.
"This case falls within the wide range of transnational crimes that are tailor made to be dealt with using HSI's numerous authorities," said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans.
"This joint investigation demonstrates to individuals who think they can commit such acts without repercussions that HSI and our law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring the integrity of our governmental systems, and constant vigilance over our national security," he continued.
According to the Justice Dept., the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, First Judicial District Drug Task Force, Washington Co. Sheriff's Office, Johnson City Police Dept., Greene Co. Sheriff's Office, and Greeneville Police Dept. all played a role in the arrests.
