KGUN 9News

Actions

Shrines to patron saint fail to protect Arizona drug dealers

Posted at 3:03 PM, Jul 10, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-11 08:30:54-04

Three shrines of Jesus Malverde, whom some say is the patron saint of drug traffickers, were found during a major drug bust on Monday morning in Kingman, Arizona.

The Mohave Area General Narcotics Enforcement Team detectives with the  Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (G.I.I.T.E.M), Mohave County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies, Kingman Police Department Flex Detectives and the Kingman Police K9 Unit executed four search warrants in the Golden Valley area at about 4:30 a.m July 10.

Search warrants into the properties resulted in locating over one pound of methamphetamine, approximately ¼ pound of heroin, approximately one pound of marijuana and several firearms.

The street value of the methamphetamine is approximately $40,000 and the street level value of the heroin to be approximately $9,600.

It was learned the head of the organization identified as Omar Sanchez was supplying numerous pounds of heroin and methamphetamine to residents of Golden Valley, Kingman and Bullhead City. Sanchez had connections to the Sinaloa Cartel to purchase the drugs.

Jonathan Hernandez, John Carlton as well as several others that had been arrested prior to this operation were identified as being street level dealers for Omar and his organization.

Two children were removed from one of the residences during the bust and turned over to the Department of Child Safety.

Those arrested included:

  • Jonathan Hernandez, 34, – Possession of narcotic drugs for sale, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, felonies.
  • John Carlton, 36, – Possession of narcotic drugs for sale, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and misconduct with a weapon, felonies.
  • Raquel Vigil, 26, – Possession of narcotic drugs for sale, possession of narcotic drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, felonies.
  • Travis Nolan, 34, – Felony warrant for child support out of Mohave County Superior Court.
  • Darren Long, 32, – Possession of drug paraphernalia, felony.
  • Jose Acosta-Sanches, 50, – Possession of marijuana for sale, possession of marijuana and misconduct with a weapon, felonies.
  • Omar Antonio Burgos-Sanchez, 23, – Possession of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of narcotic drugs for sale, possession of narcotic drugs, child abuse, misconduct with a weapon, all felonies.
  • Michelle Chim, 21, – Possession of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of narcotic drugs for sale, possession of narcotic drugs, child abuse, misconduct with a weapon, all felonies.
  • Karina Lara, 36, – Conspiracy to commit, possession of narcotic drugs for sale and possession of narcotic drugs, felonies.