GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Western Colorado Drug Task Force (WCDTF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has concluded a 13 month investigation into two drug trafficking organizations responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine to Western Colorado.

This is part of the investigation which saw 14 people arrested in June as part of a narcotics investigation of a local meth distribution ring.

This investigation was in conjunction with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office Street Crimes Unit, the Grand Junction Police Department Street Crimes Unit, the Mesa County District Attorney's Office, Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The utilization of sophisticated investigative techniques permitted law enforcement to identify the roles and responsibilities of each member of these overlapping organizations.

During this investigation, the WCDTF identified the second organization also with ties to Mexico, which were acting as another source of supply to local distributors.\

Arrested in that investigation were: German Erives-Gonzalez, Fermin Zuniga-Zazueta, Jorge Gomez-Marquez, Alfredo Acosta, Gina Flores, James Hodgson, Armando Rodriguez-Estrada, Ruth Valdez, Wayne Fontaine, Jessi Gallagher, and Trisha Hollos.

This second group arranged to have methamphetamine transported to Mesa County from other states.

Based on the investigation into these two drug trafficking organizations there have been a total 38 suspects arrested. The majority of these suspects still remain in custody. More arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Based on the investigation, the WCDTF/DEA estimates that both organizations were providing multiple pounds of methamphetamine per month to Mesa County.

“We have seen a steady decline in methamphetamine use in Mesa County over the last few years. We believe that arrests of large organizations, such as this, go a long way towards stamping out the methamphetamine problem locally,” said District Attorney Pete Hautzinger.

Bond updates can be accessed via the Sheriff's Office website: www.sheriff.mesacounty.us, click on ‘Inmate Inquiry System.'

Press release from June 16 (drug ring bust part 1)

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. z— Fourteen people were arrested after members of the Western Colorado Drug Task Force, the Grand Junction Police Department, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, and the DEA executed 8 search warrants throughout Grand Junction and Mesa County on June 15.

The warrants and subsequent arrests were part of a narcotics investigation of a local methamphetamine distribution ring. The addresses included in the searches and the subsequent arrests related to those addresses with dates of birth and charges are:

662 Crossing

- Maria Ann Quezada (05-06-84) Special offender, complicity to distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance

- Dawn Michelle Ortiz-Ramirez (08-05-74) Special offender, complicity to distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance

- Chelsie Crow (07-10-91) Possession of a controlled substance

2814 N. Niagara Cir.

- Cassandra Lynn Britton (05-30-84) Special offender, complicity to distribute a

controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance

- James Rudder (10-01-86) Outstanding felony arrest warrants for weapons and

controlled substance violations

1815 Orchard Ave.

- Ruben Almeida (04-08-77) Special offender, complicity to distribute a controlled

substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance

- Tammy Almeida (10-26-72) Possession of a controlled substance

423 Chipeta Ave. #B

- Ramie Lynn Eslinger (03-27-76) Special offender, complicity to distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance

- William Conn (08-04-69) Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances, special offender, possession of a firearm by a

previous offender, parole violation