Alpine drug sting fugitives now in custody

By MARK GLOVER

ALPINE – All 22 suspects indicted by a grand jury in Pecos in the alleged Big Bend “cocaine trafficking organization” have been rounded up by the US Drug Enforcement Agency and local law enforcement. The sting operation known as “West Texas Enterprise” arrested 19 early last week in Alpine. Two of the three fugitives, Michael Quezada and Robert Molinar Ramos turned themselves in to the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office last weekend and Eric Keith Payne was arrested in Ft Stockton on February 2^nd at a private residence.

Payne who is charged with possession with intent to distribute, was arraigned Tuesday. He waived his detention hearing and pleaded not-guilty. He is being detained without bond at the Brewster County jail.

“He has lesser charges. He’s only mentioned once in the 32 page indictment,” said David Greenhaw, Payne’s court-appointed attorney.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Miller Jr., 7 of the 9 charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute less than five kilos of cocaine within 1000 feet of a public school or playground have been detained without bond.

All twenty-two suspects have pleaded not-guilty.

“The court plea deadline is March 2^nd,” said Miller. “Provided non-continuance is sought or granted, the trial will be held in the Pecos Federal Court House on March 20^th.”

Because of the quantity of cocaine involved, said to be half a kilo, U.S. Magistrate Dwight Goains at the preliminary hearings last week, informed the alleged “ringleaders” Oscar Rojo Fierro and John Micheal Guadarrama that in accordance with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, they could be sentenced up to 40 years in the federal penitentiary if convicted.