The Southwest Drug Task Force arrested 23 people over a year and a half and dismantled a Durango drug-trafficking ring with ties to Mexico that was peddling methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, authorities said Monday.
The 18-month-long investigation, called Operation Escorpion, began in May 2006 when authorities heard that James Lee Butler Jr., 44, of Durango was selling large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, according to the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.
Butler was subsequently arrested three times, each time with a pistol in his possession. Prior to his last arrest, he shot at someone that he believed was providing information to the police.
He has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The seizure of 9 pounds of methamphetamine by the task force and other local law-enforcement agencies has disrupted supply of the drug in the region, authorities said.
“Recently, Joshua Milton McGowan, a mid-level broker, was arrested for distribution of methamphetamine. … McGowan stated that methamphetamine users in La Plata County are complaining that they have to go to New Mexico to procure methamphetamine because their sources for the methamphetamine in this region had been arrested,” according to the release.
The gang chose to operate in the area because it is remote and they believed that local residents would fear them, a former member of the organization said during the investigation, according to the release.
“Dismantling this major drug-trafficking organization needed to be done for the sake of the Four Corners region, U.S. Attorney Troy Eid, said in the release.
The task force seized 4 pounds of meth, about one-half pound of cocaine and 2 ounces of marijuana. Other law-enforcement agencies seized an additional 5 pounds of meth and two kilograms of cocaine that police attribute to the drug gang.
The street value of 9 pounds of methamphetamine alone is more than $320,000.
About $94,000 in cash and five weapons also were seized.
Emilio Linares Meraz, 23, who has since been deported, collected money for the organization. He said that in an average week, he would collect $10,000 in proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine and receive $500 for collecting it, according to the release.
Eight of those arrested have been indicted on federal charges, and the rest have either been prosecuted or are being prosecuted in the District of La Plata and Montezuma County.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
