Pubdate: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA) Copyright: 2000, The Bakersfield Californian. Contact: PO Box 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440 Website: http://www.bakersfield.com/ Author: Kerry Cavanaugh, Californian staff writer, http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n795/a07.html DRUG BUST FOLLOWED YEAR OF SURVEILLANCE Local and federal law enforcement agencies spent over a year conducting surveillance and using confidential informants to build a case against a Delano-based ring of alleged drug traffickers arrested in a recent large-scale bust. Authorities arrested 23 people and reportedly seized automobiles worth tens of thousands of dollars in the May 31 operation targeting the Medrano family. A forfeiture task force is now working to confiscate the homes used in drug production and distribution. The family has a history of importing tar heroin, cocaine and marijuana from Mexico, according to court records. The organization branched into manufacturing and the wholesale distribution of methamphetamine, becoming a major player in the Central Valley, according to affidavits supporting criminal complaints against the Medranos filed in U.S. District Court in Fresno. The organization's manufacturing operation was in Tulare County, where the rural landscape meant law enforcement was sparse, confidential sources told authorities. Most of the organizations' leadership was based in Delano, although at least three homes in Bakersfield were used for arranging sales and distribution, court documents state. Court records show authorities were using confidential informants to report on and buy drugs from the organization from early 1999. Drug Enforcement Agency statistics show more than 90 percent of methamphetamine in the United States is produced in California, with more than half of that made in the Central Valley. In March, the U.S. District Court authorized a wire-tap operation and officials soon began following phone conversations in at least two houses believed to be the center of the Medrano organization. Because of the long-term conspiracy investigation, authorities were able to pin down the key people in the organization, not just the lower-level dealers and users, Kern County Sheriff's Cmdr. Hal Chealander said. "Everyone arrested fit into the Medrano organization. They were involved in the drug trade for profit," Chealander said. Fourteen people arrested May 31 are being prosecuted in federal court on charges of conspiracy to make and distribute methamphetamine. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison and $4 million in fines. The mandatory minimum prison term for the charge is 10 years. Criminal complaints filed in Kern County Municipal Court and U.S. District Court in Fresno detail the charges faced by all 23 people arrested and the roles these people allegedly played in the drug operation. Xavier Medrano, 31, of Delano, is considered the organization's financier. He allegedly set up the methamphetamine "cooks" and controlled distribution. Javier Medrano, 40, of Delano, is believed to be a major distributor and involved in laundering profits. Ernesto Antonio Medrano, 22 of Delano, is considered a major distributor and is believed to be the son of Javier Medrano. Luis Chapa, 31, runs Lou's Barber Shop in Delano, which was considered a distribution center for methamphetamine. Chapa allegedly brokered the deals. Artemio Heredia, 23, of Delano, allegedly transported methamphetamine and collected money for Bakersfield based-distributor Albert Briseno, who branched out from the Medrano organization, according to Chealander. Mario Salamanca, 60, of Delano, allegedly placed orders and sold methamphetamine. Jessie Pompa Jr., 30, of Pixley, is believed to have procured the chemicals used in making methamphetamine. Pete Santiago, 29, of Delano, was allegedly used to hide and transport drugs. Jorge Silva, 24, of Delano, is believed to have been a runner for the organization before beginning to sell methamphetamine. Randy Evans, 43, of Delano, is believed to be a co-conspirator in the pseudoephedrine/ephedrine extraction, a first step in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Raul Medrano, 31, of Porterville, is believed to have been involved in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Leticia Medrano-Ramirez, 34, of Pixley, is believed to have stored pseudoephedrine pills and drug proceeds at her house. Agents found two portable stoves and $45,000 in cash at her house. Juan Jose Gomez, 30, of Bakersfield, allegedly bought pounds of methamphetamine from distributors. Keith Seriales and Guadalupe Gonzalez of Visalia are believed to be involved in manufacturing. Officers confiscated 19 firearms, five pounds of methamphetamine, red phosphorus and a case of pseudoephedrine tablets - materials used in the first phase of methamphetamine production. The remaining eight people arrested on May 31 are being prosecuted in state court on charges ranging from possession of a drug to conspiracy to child endangerment. George Medina Avelar, 31, of Delano, is believed to have been involved in distribution. He is charged with conspiracy. Donna Holquin, 40, of Delano, Lydia Herrera, 40 of Bakersfield, and Randy Garrison, 43, of Delano are all believed to have been drug customers who bought wholesale from Javier Medrano. They also face charges of conspiracy. Monica Garcia, 25, and Ramon Perez, 22, both of Delano, are charged with possessing and distributing methamphetamine. Angel Luis Ramos, 32, and Mary Jane Medina, 26, both of Delano, are believed to have kept chemicals at their house for the Medrano organization. Agents found 60 pounds of red phosphorous and 13 five-gallon cans of Freon. Ramos and Medina are charged with distributing and possessing of methamphetamine for sale. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D