29 people are named in federal grand jury indictments tied to a drug ring operated from behind the prison walls at McAlester. The indictments were announced yesterday by the U.S. Attormey for the Eastern District for Oklahoma.
The Indictment alleges that beginning on November 4, 2016 and continuing until on or about September 11, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States.
The Indictment also alleges that on certain dates from July 16, 2019 through August 8, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendants Enrique Pacheco, Lannie Jo Carter, Shaina Nicole Johnson, Trina Kay Rose, Daniel Pacheco, Maricsa Pacheco and Tabitha Ann Bryant, transmitted, transferred and attempted to transmit and transfer funds, that is United States Currency, by wire transfer from a place in the United States to a place outside the United States, with the intent to promote the carrying on of a specified unlawful activity, that is, the felonious importation, receiving, concealment, buying, selling, or otherwise dealing in a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 1956(a)(2)(A) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2, punishable by not more than 20 years imprisonment and a fine of the greater of $500,000.00 or two-times the amount of the transaction.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Muskogee Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, many prominent agencies which are members of the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (“HIDTA”), contributed to this investigation, including: the Tulsa Police Department, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Miami Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the El Reno Police Department, the Yukon Police Department, the Duncan Police Department, the Norman Police Department, the Choctaw Police Department, the Edmond Police Department, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County District Attorney’s Office, and the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation was coordinated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. OCDETF is an initiative led and coordinated by the Office of the United States Attorney.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Each year hundreds of people in Oklahoma die as a result of drug overdoses. Among the drugs contributing to these tragic deaths are methamphetamine and heroin. This operation, known as operation “Pop Can,” targeted an organization dealing those deadly drugs in the Eastern District and throughout Oklahoma.” Kuester added, “This investigation has been a shining example of how the public benefits when law enforcement agencies collaborate. The scope, duration, and success of this takedown would not have been possible without the participation of the agencies involved.”
“Operation Pop Can has thus far resulted in 25 arrests, and the seizure of over 30 pounds of meth and approximately 5 pounds of heroin. This investigation is yet another, where a contraband phone is smuggled into a DOC facility, and then utilized by an inmate to orchestrate criminal activity spanning across all three Oklahoma Federal Judicial Districts,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Scott. “The success in this case was a direct result of the collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies. It was a combined effort of everyone involved bringing their respective resources together to go after this criminal organization. There is no doubt that the takedown of this group will have a positive effect on our community.”
“The FBI works closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat organized crime and illegal drug trafficking in Oklahoma. Today’s arrests are a reminder to those who prey on our communities - your criminal activity will not be tolerated and you will be brought to justice,” said Melissa Godbold, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Oklahoma City Division.
“The selling of illicit drugs in our communities negatively impacts nearly all aspects of our lives,” said Tamera Cantu, IRS Special Agent In Charge of the Dallas Field Office. “This investigation involves drug traffickers laundering their profits through wire transfers to Mexico. The role of IRS-Criminal Investigation in narcotics cases is to track down these profits and dismantle the drug trafficking organizations. Today’s indictments emphasize our commitment to this role as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect people’s security, health and wellbeing by bringing these criminals to justice.”
John Scully, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety said, “Partnering with the Eastern District of the United States Attorney’s Office and our other law enforcement partners on this case, has resulted in multiple arrests and indictments. Those arrests will certainly keep Oklahomans safer and will have a positive impact on the drug epidemic in our communities. These Drug Trafficking Organizations commit violent crimes in order to continue their criminal enterprise and the desire by those addicted, to obtain these illegal drugs drives them to commit related crimes as well. Oklahomans should be proud of the coordinated response by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and these law enforcement agencies, to keep them safe.”
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Interim Director Bob Cook said, “It takes law enforcement in a cooperative effort with our federal, state and local partners to dismantle these groups that threaten the peace and safety of our communities. OBN is committed in our mission to eradicate criminal drug organizations and fight to protect law abiding citizens.”
Muskogee County Sheriff Rob Frazier said, “Today’s search warrants and arrests represent the continued efforts of the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office to combat illegal drugs and make Muskogee County a safer place for all. This office will continue our strong alliances with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to maximize our efforts against drug distributors in Muskogee County.”
“The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be part of this collaboration”, said Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado. “These arrests are a perfect example of how our communities and the citizens of the Eastern District are safer, when local, state and federal authorities work together to take drug dealers off the streets.”