Everett Restaurant Searched During Major Drug Bust

An Everett restaurant was one of two-dozen locations searched across Washington State during a major drug case this week by Federal agents. The investigation has been going on for at least six months.

A 31 year-old-man from Everett has been detained by Federal authorities on 6 counts of distributing heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. He is one of 12 people named in a federal indictment returned on October 26th and arrested this week.

On Thursday morning at around 6:00 AM a dozen agents swarmed the restaurant near the Eastmont neighborhood in south Everett. Agents were reportedly there for about two hours. The search warrant return has not yet been filed with the Federal Court and according to Emily Langlie with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle it may be some time before that is available. Therefore MyEverettNews.com is not naming the restaurant. Langlie did provide MyEverettNews.com the following press release…

Twelve Arrested for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Meth and Cocaine

Drug Distribution throughout Four Washington Counties –Restaurant, Body Shop and Car Dealership Searched

Eleven people were arrested yesterday in Washington and Nevada in connection with a large drug smuggling and distribution ring operating in four western Washington counties, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. An additional person was already in immigration custody. The arrests coincided with the execution of 24 court-authorized search warrants for properties located in King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Yakima, and Franklin Counties. The searched locations included a restaurant in Everett, an auto body shop in Sedro Wooley, and a car dealership in Mount Vernon, Washington. Defendants made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle today. Those arrested in Nevada will make their initial appearances there before being transferred to the Western District of Washington.

Ten of the defendants arrested to date are charged in an indictment returned October 26, 2016 with distributing heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom Counties. Additionally, two defendants are charged by criminal complaint.

Over the course of the six-month investigation leading up to the coordinated searches, law enforcement seized eight kilos of methamphetamine, two kilos of cocaine and nearly a kilo of heroin. Law enforcement also seized more than $117,000 in cash. Yesterday alone, agents seized an additional two kilos of cocaine, more than $180,000 cash and more than 20 firearms – including a loaded AK47.

These defendants are currently in custody:

ERIC MARQUEZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 24

HECTOR HUGO GARCIA-GUTIERREZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26

BALTAZAR REYES-GARCIA; Camano Island, WA – Age 44

ANGEL SERRANO-CARRENO; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 29

HECTOR CONTRERAS-IBARRA; Pasco, WA – Age 32

IVAN BETANZOS-TORRES; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26

PABLO CATANO; Renton, WA, – Age 36

EDGAR GONZALEZ-TORREZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 21

OSCAR LUNA-MERCADO; Everett, WA – Age 31

MIGUEL VALDOVINOS-CISNEROS; Kent, WA – Age 18

RIGOBERTO CASTELLANO-HERRERA, Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26

ANTONIO GOMEZ, Burien, WA – Age 28

The charges contained in the indictment and complaints are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. The investigation was led by: the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in conjunction with the FBI, Whatcom Gang & Drug Task Force and Skagit County Inter-Agency Drug Task Force. The investigation was supported by: the Auburn Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Snohomish County Regional Drug & Gang Task Force, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Everett Police Department and Seattle Police Department. Additional assistance was provided by HSI; CBP and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Vaughan and Steven Masada.

It’s been a busy week for local drug agents as well with search warrants being served at locations in and around Everett the past few days for heroin and a large scale illegal marijuana manufacturing operation on top of the Federal activity.