DOJ documents reveal names of 20 people arrested, charged in FBI Lubbock drug bust
The U.S. Department of Justice has released more details about the drug ring bust in Lubbock that FBI director Kash Patel touted on social media earlier in the week.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham announced that there were 20 arrests of alleged methamphetamine and fentanyl traffickers in Lubbock with suspected ties to Mexican Cartels.
Dig Deeper: FBI announces 22 arrests in drug bust in Lubbock, Arrington praises law enforcement efforts
The arrests were the result of a two-year long investigation that began March 2023, during which law enforcement seized more than 43 kilograms of methamphetamine, 285.4 grams of fentanyl (approximately 1,902 pills), 335.5 grams of cocaine, 2,296.7 grams of marijuana, and six firearms.
The 285.4 grams of seized fentanyl equals potentially 21,662 lethal doses of fentanyl, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office news release.
On Friday, 15 people appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Lubbock for initial appearances after they were indicted for their alleged roles in the drug trafficking operation, according to court records.
Those people include:
Vida Tamor Overstreet, 49, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, unlawful use of a communications facility and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Patrick Wayne Frazier, 38, who was arrested on Oct. 22, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Juantay Dewayne Foster, 44, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, unlawful use of a communications facility and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
David Wayne Frazier Jr., 44, who was arrested March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, unlawful use of a communications facility and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Santiago Daniel Baltazar, 26, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Walter Wood, 48, who was arrested on March 4, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Santos Moncada, 30, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Jessie Franco, 41, who was arrested on March 27, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Shondra Christine Walker, 40, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Orian Emanuel Garcia, 35, who was arrested on March 17, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
Rudolfo Luna, 43, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Adam Lee Arredondo, 37, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
Justin Lee Dominguez, 37, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
Anthony James Lockett, 44, who was arrested on Sept. 12, 2023, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Rita Adelita Castillo, 44, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Paul Wayne Frazier, 38, who was arrested Feb. 28, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Charles Andre Sykes, 42, who was arrested on Feb. 28, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Heather Jane Whitehead, 40, who was arrested on March 26 is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Henry Tienda, Jr., 35, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Gary Dewayne Bolton, aka Bay Bay, 36, is charged with distribution of fentanyl.
Arhmad Rashad Fountain aka Ra Ra, 47, is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.
Rubith Diaz Rodriguez, 24, who was arrested on Feb. 7, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Tyler Kristian Piseno, 37, who was arrested on Sept. 8, is charged with distribution of fentanyl.
The arrest were part of a joint collaboration between FBI's Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Texas DPS, the DEA's Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Office, the Caprock High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Lubbock Police Department, the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Anti-Gang Center, the Levelland Police Department and the Hockley County Sheriff's Office.
According to the DOJ, the investigation is part of Operation Take Back America — a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the DOJ to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: FBI drug bust operations leads to 20 arrested, 17 charged in Lubbock
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