Immigrants find a new way to make money

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From the Casper Star Tribune:

State and federal law enforcement officials have arrested five people from Mexico and Wyoming in connection with an alleged plan to distribute crystal methamphetamine, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

The first arrests occurred in Riverton on Friday after Claudia Hermosillo of Riverton, 25, and Santiago Gonzalez-Cisneros of Riverton, 26, attempted to sell 8 pounds of the drug to an Drug Enforcement Administration agent, according to the release. The drugs were found concealed in a secret compartment within the vehicle.

Later, following a search of Hermosillo and Gonzalez's residence in Riverton, officers also arrested Marcos Diaz-Ramirez of Denver, 26, for his role in helping to transport the drugs from Colorado to Riverton. Also arrested was Cayetano Gonzalez-Cisneros of Denver, 35, who is the brother to Santiago Gonzalez-Cisneros.

An additional 8 pounds of crystal meth was located several hours later near Wheatland after DEA agents notified law enforcement personnel statewide that another person connected with the drug ring was driving south likely in possession of drugs, the release said. Officers with the Wheatland Police Department located a Dodge Stratus bearing Colorado license plates traveling on Interstate 25. The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, Rafeal Mayorquin-Espinoza of Denver, 34, was arrested after members of the Wheatland Police Department searched the car and found 8 pounds of meth in the trunk.

"He is believed to have left the Riverton area immediately following the earlier arrests of his conspirators in Riverton," the release said.

Claudia Hermosillo, Santiago Gonzalez-Cisneros, Marcos Diaz-Ramirez, Cayetano Gonzalez-Cisneros and Rafeal Mayorquin-Espinoza all face various federal drug trafficking violations. Diaz-Ramirez, Cayetano Gonzalez-Cisneros and Mayorquin-Espinoza also face additional immigration violations.

"These arrests are another shining example of the exemplary team work practiced by law enforcement throughout our state," said U.S. Attorney Matthew H. Mead. "These are significant drug violators, and without the quick-minded efforts and dedication of the Wheatland Police Department and Riverton Police Department in aid of the DCI and DEA, these violators likely would have escaped our grasp and returned to Mexico."

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Another Casper Star Tribune Article:

RIVERTON -- Law enforcement officials are investigating whether 16 pounds of methamphetamine confiscated in Wyoming Friday originated in Mexico.

The drugs were intended for sale throughout central Wyoming, including the Wind River Indian Reservation, said Tony Young, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Cheyenne.

Young emphasized that the investigation is continuing. He said officials are looking into whether the alleged drug distributors are connected to organized crime gangs in Mexico.

The five suspects appeared Monday afternoon in Casper before U.S. Magistrate Scott Skavdahl. They're being held without bond until detention hearings on Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Michael Shickich in Casper.

Young said all five -- Claudia Hermosillo, 25, Santiago Gonzalez-Cisneros, 26, Cayetano Gonzalez-Cisneros, 35, Marcos Diaz-Ramirez, 26, and Rafeal Mayorquin-Espinoza, 34 -- faced charges of possession of meth with intent to distribute, distribution of meth and conspiracy to distribute meth. If convicted, each faces 10 years to life in prison.

Sixteen pounds of meth has a wholesale street value of about $720,000, Young said.

Agencies involved in the bust included the Riverton and Wheatland police departments, the state Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

"These arrests are another shining example of the exemplary teamwork practiced by law enforcement throughout our state," U.S. Attorney Matt Mead said in a press release Monday. "These are significant drug violators, and without the quick-minded efforts and dedication of the Wheatland Police Department and Riverton Police Department in aid of the DCI and DEA, these violators likely would have escaped our grasp and returned to Mexico.

"These arrests underscore our statewide commitment to put people behind bars who traffic methamphetamine in Wyoming," Mead added. "The message is clear: If you deal that poison in our state, you'll go to jail."

Riverton Police Chief John Snell said he wouldn't be surprised if this drug bust tied in somehow with Mexican gangs. He said Riverton is creating a meth awareness committee, much like one that is operating in Casper.

"We can't arrest our way out of this," Snell said, "so we have to also concentrate on prevention and treatment."

Last year, state and federal officials broke up a drug ring that they said had distributed 98 pounds of meth in and around the Wind River Indian Reservation. The leader of the ring, Jesus Martin Sagaste-Cruz, was sentenced to life in prison. Officials said that ring had connections to gangs in Mexico, and it also distributed meth on South Dakota and Nebraska Indian reservations.