Two Men Arrested In Marijuana Bust

[420AM&PM]

Del Rio Police Department officers arrested two men after finding nearly 400 pounds of marijuana at an East Ninth Street residence earlier this week.

“Information was received by detective George Garcia, who then initiated an investigation into a large amount of marijuana being stored in a residence at the rear of 604 E. Ninth St.,” DRPD Capt. John Lissner, who heads the department’s criminal investigations division, said Thursday.

Lissner said the residence is in a separate building that fronts onto an alleyway at the rear of the East Ninth Street home.

Garcia was assisted in his efforts by DRPD detective Ronzina Adauto and DRPD officer Nadia Muraira, Lissner said.

The officers approached the residence about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“The investigation resulted in the seizure of 392 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of two subjects,” Lissner said.

Arrested were Javier Alfaro Macias, 21; and Lucio Penaloza Bustos, 34, Lissner said.

Macias’ booking sheet lists his home address as 604 E. Ninth St. and Bustos’ booking sheet lists his residence address in Ciudad Acuña, Coah., Mexico.

Lissner said the case has been turned over the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for federal prosecution.

“We turn it over to the federal government because they can use the information to possibly link this to other drug activity and because the sentences they will receive from the federal government are stiffer than those they might get at the state level,” Lissner said.

Macias and Bustos have both been charged with possession of marijuana and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.

According to the criminal complaint against the pair filed in the U.S. District’s Clerk’s office by ICE Special Agent Gabriel Villanueva, a total of 103 packages of marijuana were found at the East Ninth Street residence, and both men confessed their involvement with the marijuana.

According to the complaint, Macias told federal officers in a videotaped interview that a month ago, Bustos had offered him the house at 604 E. Ninth St., and Macias had agreed to stay there with his wife and infant child.

“Macias and Bustos were to share the utilities, and Bustos was to pay for the rent. Macias further stated that he knew the house was being used to store marijuana and assisted Bustos with the repackaging of the marijuana,” the complaint reads.

Macias also stated that he had witnessed Bustos pick up a white Tahoe/Suburban from a local convenience store at Ninth Street and Veterans Boulevard and drive that vehicle to the East Ninth Street residence.

“Macias stated that the vehicle contained marijuana, and it was unloaded from the vehicle and stored at the house,” the complaint reads.

Bustos’ interview was similar.

Bustos told agents that a month ago Macias asked him if he wanted to stay at the residence, and that Bustos agreed to stay there. Bustos told agents he had knowledge of the marijuana being stored there “so that an unknown person would come at a later time and pick up the marijuana.”

Bustos told the agents who interviewed him that he had assisted in the repackaging of the marijuana.

Bustos also told agents that he had “assisted” Macias in picking up a white Tahoe/Suburban form the convenience store located at Ninth Street and Veterans Boulevard, but that Macias had driven the vehicle to the residence.

Bustos also told agents he had assisted Macias in unloading the marijuana from the vehicle.


Newshawk: 420AM&PM - 420 Magazine
Source: Del Rio News-Herald (Del Rio,Texas)
Pubdate: September 23, 2006
Author: Karen Gleason
Copyright: © 2006 Del Rio News-Herald. All rights reserved.
Contact: Del Rio News Herald
Website: Del Rio News Herald