Ten suspects ? all from the Ark City area ? made their first appearance in a Cowley County courtroom Thursday afternoon, a day after being arrested in a large scale drug-enforcement blitz three years in the making.
Patrick Galindo, 21, faces 30 drug-related charges and his $500,000 bond is the highest of anyone charged so far. Judge Jim Pringle ordered Galindo to surrender his passport as a precaution should the defendant bond out of jail.
Galindo told the judge that he could afford his own lawyer and was seen consulting with Winfield attorney Jennifer Passiglia during his brief court appearance. He is expected back in court next week for a preliminary hearing.
Nine others ? seven men and two women ? joined Galindo as the first ten defendants formally charged following a large-scale enforcement effort that involved officers from at least 14 local, state and federal agencies. All suspects are accused of multiple charges including arranging the sale or purchase of drugs over the phone.
Cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine are the primary substances believed circulated by what has been described as large-scale drug trafficking operation, investigators said. Police from Ark City and Winfield as well as the Cowley County Sheriff’s Dept. were involved in the busts.
Kansas Asst. Attorney General Steven Wilhoft, who was in Winfield to file the charges, said a total of 15 people have been arrested in connection with investigation.
Additional charges against other suspects are expected soon and a juvenile proceeding related to the bust is set for Friday afternoon.
Authorities also want to arrest at least four others, including Patrick Galindo’s uncle, Oscar Galindo, a man who fled from police during the raids Wednesday. Francisco Galindo, a relative of Oscar and Patrick, is also being thought.
Ralph Beard, 28, and Cesar Garcia, 26, also remain at large.
During a news conference Thursday morning, Wilhoft provided some details ? but avoided few specifics he feared might jeopardize the investigation ? of an effort that involved close to 90 officers from a number of agencies, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Authorities searched nine locations in and around Ark City ? eight through search warrants and one location by consent.
Sources who spoke with NewsCow, on the condition they not be named, said much of the activity this week was based on years of surveillance. Investigators arranged drug buys, monitored the activity of suspected dealers and slowly learned the identities of those thought to be involved in the trafficking.
Though some of the men arrested are Hispanic and have ties to Mexico, Wilhoft would not say whether authorities believed the trafficking is connected to any Mexican drug cartels.
Cowley County Attorney Chris Smith ? whose office has assisted in the efforts leading up to charges ? said he thinks arrests and charges from the investigation could put a dent in local drug activity.
"That’s our hope obviously," he said. "That’s how we justified the significant use of resources."
Here is a list of those formally charged so far and their bond amounts:
PATRICK GALINDO, 21, rural Ark City
1 count ? Conspiracy to distribute cocaine, meth and marijuana
4 counts ? Distribution of a controlled substance.
1 count ? Distribution of meth within 1,000 feet of a school
2 counts ? Distribution of cocaine
10 counts ? Use of a communication facility (phone) to arrange sale or purchase of a controlled substance.
10 counts ? Failure to affix drug tax stamp
Bond: $500,000
Attorney: Will hire his own attorney
RAMON PAUL MARTINEZ, 29, Ark City
1 count ? Conspiracy to distribute, coke, meth and pot
10 counts ? Use of phone to arrange sale or purchase
Bond: $50,000
Attorney: Court appointed Tim Showalter
CLINT EDWARD WALKER JR., 19, rural Ark City
1 count ? Conspiracy to distribute coke, meth and pot
1 count ? Use of phone to arrange sale or purchase
Bond: $50,000
Attorney: Court appointed Jon Von Achen
JEFFERY LAWRENCE MARSHALL, 31, Ark City
1 count ? Conspiracy to distribute coke, meth and pot
3 counts ? Use of phone to arrange sale or purchase
Bond: $10,000
Attorney: Court Appointed Jason Brewer
ANTHONY WAYNE HENDERSON, 29, Ark City
1 count ? Conspiracy to distribute coke, meth and pot
9 counts ? Use of phone to arrange sale or purchase
1 count ? Possession of pot
1 count ? Failure to affix drug stamp
Bond: $100,000
Attorney: Court Appointed Rodney Iverson
DARREN JAKE PINION, 26, Ark City
1 count ? Conspiracy to distribute coke, meth and pot
3 counts ? Use of phone to arrange sale or purchase.
Bond: $50,000
Attorney: Will hire his own lawyer.
SARAH JANELLE OESTMAN, 24, rural Ark City
1 count ? Conspiracy to distribute meth, coke and pot
6 counts ? Use of phone to arrange sale or purchase
1 count ? Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
1 count ? Possession of pot with intent to distribute.
1 count ? Felony possession of paraphernalia
2 count ? Failure to affix drug stamp
Bond: $66,000
Attorney: Will hire her own lawyer.
DAVID NEAL BAIN, 49, Ark City
1 count ? Possession of coke
1 count ? Possession of drug-use paraphernalia
1 count ? Use of phone to arrange sale or purchase
2 counts ? Failure to affix drug stamp
1 count ? Possession of marijuana
1 count ? Possession of drug paraphernalia
Bond: $50,000
Attorney: Will hire his own attorney
ISRAEL PEREZ GARCIA, 30, Ark City
1 count ? Conspiracy to distribute coke, meth or pot
1 count ? Possession of cocaine
1 count ? Use of phone to arrange sale or purchase
1 count ? Failure to affix drug stamp
Bond: $50,000
Attorney: Court Appointed Lee Velasquez
NELLIE MAE TRACY, 35, Ark City
1 count ? Distribution of cocaine
1 count ? Distribution of methamphetamine
2 counts ? Use of a phone to arrange sale or purchase
2 counts ? Failure to affix drug tax stamp
Bond: $100,000
Attorney: Court Appointed Denise Donnelly-Mills
