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Google"Drug dealers out there, we're coming to a town near you."
This message provided courtesy of Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow in the aftermath of sentencing that will result in over 2,000 months of combined jail time for 14 individuals associated with a drug trafficking ring in northwest Iowa.
"This is one that we were heavily involved in with all the other agencies," said Krukow. "We're excited and glad to see this case coming to a close and we're going to put some bad guys away."
At the center of this network were methamphetamine distributors residing in Storm Lake and Dow City as well as Spencer. These distributors received meth from a Mexican source in Omaha, Neb., and were responsible for the majority of the substance being sold on the streets in Spencer, the Iowa Great Lakes and Storm Lake areas.
United States Attorney Matt N. Dummermuth announced Thursday that a multi-agency effort lasting nearly two-and-a-half years led to the dismantling of a large network of crystal methamphetamine traffickers who primarily resided in northwest Iowa.
"The imported meth case involving gangs, guns, drugs and illegal aliens typifies the drug trafficking prosecutions being worked every day by our office with law enforcement at all levels across Iowa," said Dummermuth. "A coordinated investigation spearheaded by local officers and state agents and assisted by federal authorities put a significant meth ring out of commission and made a real impact on the meth trafficking problem in northwest Iowa."
Spencer Police Chief Mark Lawson said that it will put a dent in the supply for a while, but knows the battle is far from over. "As always it's an ongoing project. All the agencies need to work together. This is the example of a team effort all the way around. It would be nice to eliminate it all together, but it's going to be a while before that becomes a reality.
Lawson continued, "As long as there is a demand, there is going to be someone to try and supply that demand...It comes down to the individual user needing to be treated and getting off that stuff to eliminate that demand."
Twenty-one defendants have been convicted and sentenced in terms ranging from over 21 years in federal prison to probation with the Iowa Department of Corrections. Seven of these defendants were in the United States illegally and will be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation after serving their prison terms. Two other subjects were deported but not prosecuted.
Among those sentenced, six Spencer residents: Wesley Burrow, 25, received 180 months imprisonment; Orlando Escobar-Quintanilla, 28, 168 months; Leandro Cervantes-Murillo, 21, 79 months; Elio Marin-Torres, 30, 120 months; Eder Noe Sosa-Jimenez, 26, 180 months; and Rolando Maza-Quiroz, 39, 39 months.
Krukow was pleased with the federal sentencing guidelines as opposed to the more flexible state standards. "That's the beauty of the federal system, they'll serve at least 85 percent, rather than less than one percent. At the federal level, there's no parole. Some of these other folks we arrest beat us back from Oakdale."
In February of 2007, law enforcement officers from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Storm Lake Police Department, the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force agencies including the Clay County Sheriff's Office and the Spencer Police Department, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, began an investigation that has led to the seizure of over six pounds of crystal methamphetamine at a street value of over $275,000, $25,000 in cash, five vehicles valued at over $39,000, and four firearms.
Also sentenced for their involvement: Moises Gonzalez, 29, 260 months, Amie Aguirre, 24, 126 months, Joel Aguirre, 29, 235 months and Eric Sandoval, 28, 120 months -- all of Storm Lake; Jose Rodriguez-Ballina, 23, of Omaha, 84 months; Robby Krueger, 43, of Dow City, 168 months; Joseph Volberding, 37, of St. Cloud, Minn., 151 months; and Todd Fundermann, 27, of Cleghorn, 39 months.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher prosecuted the case that involved multiple agencies in addition to the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Spencer and Storm Lake police departments. Among regional agencies providing assistance: The Spirit Lake Police Department; the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office; and the Clay, Dickinson and Buena Vista County Attorney offices; and many other city, county, state, interstate and federal agencies.
Krukow commented on the joint effort involved to get these dealers off the streets. "When we work together, good things happen. This just shows the continued cooperation that's going on..."
The Clay County Sheriff used the successful effort as an opportunity to comment on proposed budget cuts from the state. "This is another reason we can't cut law enforcement right now. We just can't cut personnel right now...If they were to take our people, we'd have our legs cut off. We'd still have our arms and our heads, but our legs would be cut off."
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Congratulations. You won this battle, now keep fighting and you will the war on drugs, illegal aliens and other criminal activities in Spencer and surrounding areas.
I think it's high time we cleaned house in Spencer and Storm lake. We're not doing anything to keep industry here and if we don't keep up scourging the town of drugs we will be a town of old people and criminals.
I believe that "cleaning up" in regards to the drug effort is Truly Awesome! I DO NOT want drugs in the community where my children grow. BUT i know for a fact that these feds will prosecute ANYONE whom has made even the smallest of mistakes as long as they are Mexican. Illegal Aliens ARE NOT Aliens, they are fellow human beings, Believe it or not the majority of them DO pay their taxes just like we do. If they find trouble, just like some of our own children, they are slapped with THE HARSHEST sentence, while the AMERICAN sitting next to them gets a slap on the wrist. I'm sure that MOST of these people that are mentioned above DESERVE to be right where they are, But DO NOT pass judgment on all unless you know their WHOLE story! Unless you know for FACT just HOW these prosecutions were made.
Two thumbs up for cleaning up the area!!
Hey chozen1, a story is a story, and most of the time, illegals tend to provide a fake one, so regardless, they've decided that getting in on the drug business like that is the right way, when in fact, it's the wrong way to go. Therefore, not only did they enter our country the wrong way, they did the wrong thing. Thus, yes, they deserve what they get. It's not our job to clean up Mexico, it's Mexico's job to clean up Mexico. Meanwhile, we'll keep cleaning ourselves up.
I do believe this was their country before it was ours. Most of the mexicans here are only here to make a better life for their families. So maybe if all the american companies that move down there would pay beter wages they wouldn't be here because trust me I've been to Mexico and it is Beautiful there. O and about the comment about putting bad guys away unless you knew them personally you have no right saying they were bad guys. They weren't bad guys they just made some bad choices. The town of Spencer is a long ways away from being cleaned up by any means!!!
Actually, I do have the right to say that, because they made bad choices (and they do have the right to make a difference in their lives and turn things around for the better) and it affects other people who are trying to live a better life in a negative fashion. It doesn't matter whether this land belonged to them at some point in the past or not, the fact is that it does not belong to them NOW. Also, it is not up to American companies to dictate how people spend their money, it is up to their culture. While Spencer isn't really fully cleaned up, and it probably never really will be, it's a lot better than other places in this country.
When was Iowa ever a part of the Mexicans country. Somebody attended a different history class than I did. Where I went to school I was taught that this land was stolen fair and square from the Indians! Whoops I meant Native Americans.
Good job guys. I hope I can be a part of the team for our next bust.
Send all of them back to their own country-most of them are probably illegals any way. why should the tax payers have to support them. when they get out of jail they will just start all over. Send them back!!!!!
deweyh: "...this land was stolen fair and square from the Indians!"
Wow. 110% pathetic.
Razz the kid....Try to keep up...I was being facetious!
Wow, some of you will go to ridiculous lengths to find something to take offense to.
#1- its perfectly acceptable to call those in a drug ring "bad guys"- that's what they have proven themselves to be. If it was just a bad decision, then let them prove that. Also, isn't that what many of us have always referred to criminals as to our own kids? When it comes right down to it, that's what these people are, bad choices/corrupt people or not- criminals. Why? Because they broke the law.
#2- most of the USA was originally Native American land, even in parts of the Southwest and California where they were fighting with the Spanish/Mexicans over it. Does that give anyone the right with Hispanic (or any other, for that matter) heritage any more right to manufacture and sell drugs? Absolutely not. Chozen one, you seem like you are trying to stir the pot- I've seen plenty of Caucasians slapped with drug sentences here in NW Iowa. I mean, "I've seen PLENTY of CAUCASIANS slapped with DRUG sentences HERE in NW IOWA."
HMMMM , I will reiterate! Do NOT pass judgment on ANYONE unless you have the facts in your hands. It makes everyone feel better to place blame, To find a specific person or group to HATE because that might help you to sleep better at night? Pathetic but truly, ignorance IS bliss! I am NOT stirring any pot, I made 1 comment that must have struck some peoples cords because it was TRUE. meltedsnowflake, you say that you have some sort of right to say that someone has made bad choices and you do not know them, not to mention their "story" WRONG. You do NOT! iowagirl, that was an ignorant comment. My comment says "do not pass judgement" because that is not for US to do! Most of you if not ALL of you HAVE NOT LIVED IT! I am happy that the GUILTY are incarcerated BUT it is NOT all as "black and white" as most people think.They are not all guilty just because of their race, but If it makes all of YOU sleep better tonight, then who cares about the babies right?
Chozen1, who said anything about babies? Take a deep breath...
Live it !
Chozen1, I thought the article was about a drug ring that was dismantled. It is true that most of the people who got caught were hispanic. It was their bad choices that put them where they are now. I'm not sorry if you have lived or are living with someone that feel they have to resort to selling drugs. You have to live your own life and your mistakes. I do feel sorry for the children.
Well, now you're not making any sense, which is certainly not beneficial to your cause. Whatever your situation may be, Sarge has it right. This article, and the responses to it, were in regards to a drug ring being dismantled. In fact, I read iowagirl's comment to mean that she thinks all the drug ring members (not all Hispanics) should be sent home, which is why she said most of them (them meaning the members) were probably illegals. Now, perhaps she is stereotyping drug ring members as illegals, but the fact remains that they were caught breaking the law and there should be some penalty involved. As for any babies? Babies of drug dealers suffer, but not at the hands of the government- their parents screwed them over big time before the government had the chance.
just wait til iowa passes the same law that missouri did where anyone over a certain age can carry up to 1 ounce of pot legally and do not have to have a prescription for it. In that state the drug crime has already gone down and it's not such a waste of tax payers money there for the cops to worry so much about drugs and they can start paying attention to other things now.
Good news. With limited time, resources and money, it's so important for our law enforcement authorities to focus on the most dangerous crimes and criminals as in this case.
Once the criminals that truly disrupt our daily lives in a negative way are addressed, then the authorities can focus on illegal dishwashers, high school kids with a single joint, etc.
I'm not saying any discovery of crimes should be ignored, but focus should be on the worst crimes first.
Drug rings = bad.
Catching the members of the drug ring and incarcerating them = good.
I have never lived with a drug dealer or really been around drugs, but my biological mother (who did not raise me but whom I met as an adult and hoped we could be friends) and her sister (they don't live in NW Iowa) are now facing Class B felony counts and I don't really see how they can avoid prison.
I don't hate them or think they're bad people -- I think they did wrong and were caught. No, I don't want my bio-mom in prison at age 55, but she's spent her life thinking these crises just happen to her and she doesn't participate in the downward spirals. I'm afraid for her as I don't think prison is safe for a 55 year old, but I'm not sure what anyone can do about it now.
Hewlett -- I was not aware of the law in Missouri. That is stupendous and I think if Iowa can approve gay marriage they can approve sane hemp laws, too.