Yuma News Now

Between February and April 2008 several purchases of methamphetamine were monitored by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration at the residence of co-conspirator Secundino Favela, 51, on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Bapchule, Arizona.  On April 28, 2008 a federal search warrant was executed at Favela’s residence right after Nava-Calderon and another co-conspirator, Mario Ramirez-Martinez, delivered methamphetamine to the house in a car. Agents found multiple assault rifles, handguns and $76,523 in U.S. currency.  A search of the car yielded approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.  In total, the conspiracy  involved over 6 pounds of methamphetamine and over $104,000 in U.S. currency.

Favela was sentenced on February 9, 2009, to twelve years in prison.  Ramirez-Martinez, 44, also in the country illegally, pleaded guilty as charged in March, and is still awaiting sentencing.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Gila River Police Department and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Howard D. Sukenic and James B. Morse Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.