Not guilty pleas entered by 10 defendants in large methamphetamine bust
Ten of 14 defendants indicted last month in the largest methamphetamine bust in Nevada history pleaded not guilty in District Court on Tuesday.
A seven-month investigation, which included wiretaps and other surveillance, netted 208 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $5.7 million, authorities said.
Law enforcement officers also seized four pounds of heroin, $280,000 in cash, a shotgun, five handguns — including one with a silencer — and nine vehicles in the July 12 bust.
At least six of the defendants were in the country illegally.
The man suspected of being the leader, Oscar Cavadas, is in custody with Jorge Loza, 26; Armando Lara, 37; Sergio Vieyra-Medrano, 37; Felix Roman, 27; Jose Lopez, 20; Rolando Cortez-Zamora, 44; Cecilia Salgado, 55; Alejandro Gomez, 31; and Salvador Garibo, 27.
Bench warrants have been issued for the four other defendants: Francisco Cruz-Vizcara, Dagoberto Huerta-Mata, Lydia Barrelleza — ages unknown — and Mayra Torres, 28, of California.
A trial was tentatively set for Oct. 10 before Judge Jerry Tao, but legal wrangling over discovery issues and grand jury transcripts and motions to dismiss, suppress and sever by more than a dozen attorneys probably will delay that date.
Cavadas, also known as Moreliano Zaragoza-Ramos, faces 20 felony counts, including multiple counts of trafficking methamphetamine, unlawful possession of firearms and conspiracy.
The other defendants face a mix of trafficking methamphetamine and conspiracy charges.
Gomez and Torres are U.S. citizens. Salgado has a green card and is in the country legally.
A task force of local and federal investigators confiscated the drugs in a coordinated raid of five Las Vegas Valley homes that were part of a Mexican drug operation discovered in January.
Authorities think the drugs were made in Mexico and transported here.
The seized vehicles had several secret smuggling compartments.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
