Two jailed after large marijuana distribution operation discovered inside Carson City apartment
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 06/11/2018 - 10:19am
Two men were arrested by the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team early Monday and face multiple drug trafficking, sales and conspiracy charges after approximately 40 pounds of marijuana, 20 grams of cocaine, 11 tabs of Ecstasy, guns and around $24,000 in cash were recovered.
Arrested were Joel Rodriguez, 23, and Ruben Monrroy Pacheco, 30, of Carson City. Both reside at Tanglewood Apartments in the 800 block of South Roop Street.
Each face charges of felony drug trafficking, sales, conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act, maintaining a drug house, manufacturing by chemical extraction, possession with intent to sell and operating a drug house approximately 29 feet from a playground, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. Each have bail amounts listed at $127,500.
The arrests were made following an investigation in which a vehicle was stopped for a moving violation, which led to the recovery of around 6.8 pounds of marijuana and $3,600 cash inside the vehicle, said Carson City Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Daniel Gonzales.
A search warrant was applied for and granted by a judge, which led to the recovery of multiple pounds marijuana, other drugs, packaging equipment for sales and distribution, and the guns: an AK47 pistol and a Glock handgun.
According to Gonzales, the apartment was serving as its own marijuana distribution point, where marijuana was placed in labeled jars on shelves and then dispensed with plastic packaging tubes to customers.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said the large quantity of marijuana found and how it was being distributed is something the department has been concerned about since recreational marijuana use became legal last year.
“This is the type of activity here that is getting into the hands of kids, not people getting their marijuana at a legal dispensary,” said Furlong. “This has nothing to do with the taxable sales of marijuana. This is black market activity for the sole purpose of personal gain.”
Furlong said the black market sale of marijuana remains a dangerous and potentially deadly activity, noting homicides that happened in Carson City in 2016 and at a Dayton shopping center parking lot this spring. Both involved black market marijuana sales.
“Both of these cases caused horrific events in our communities,” said Furlong, looking at a large crate of collected evidence. “This is the problem. Right here. This is what gets into the hands of kids.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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