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A four-month investigation by Grady County Sheriff’s Deputies and Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents has resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals including Artemio Reyes-Pina who is believed to be one of the largest distributors of methamphetamine and cocaine in the state of Oklahoma. Law enforcement officials also seized more than $300,000 in cash as well as $250,000 in real estate, luxury automobiles, motorcycles and a number of weapons.
Discussion
Authorities believe they nabbed drug kingpin
4-month investigation leads to arrest of 18, Sheriff says
Grady County Sheriff Art Kell announced Friday that a four-month investigation into drug activity in Grady County has resulted in the arrest and criminal charges being filed against 18 individuals.
Artemio Reyes-Pina, 54, was arrested at his home in rural Grady County following the execution of a search warrant last week by members of the Grady County Sheriff’s Department and Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents.
“Our information is that Reyes-Pina has been one of the largest distributors of methamphetamine and cocaine in the state of Oklahoma,” Kell said. “Our investigators followed up on numerous leads received by our office. Each piece of information was a building block. Each time a person was arrested in this investigation, more information was received and another building block was put into place.
“Finally, after the execution of the previous search warrants, we were prepared to apprehend the man near the top of the drug organization, and that was Reyes-Pina. The results of the search warrant executed on Reyes-Pina’s residence revealed that all the information we had received pointing toward him was in fact correct.
“During this entire investigation Assistant District Attorneys Leslie March and Leah Edwards advised and consulted our department on all the legal issues needed to put these criminals behind bars.
“It is a pleasure to involve these agencies that deal with aspects of law enforcement on all levels.”
Large quantities of methamphetamine and more than $300,000 in cash were found at the residence. An additional $250,000 in real estate, two luxury automobiles, a truck, motorcycles and numerous weapons were also seized. The vehicles were seized by the deputies because they believe he used them to distribute illegal drugs.
Also located around the property were packaging materials indicating large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine had been received by Reyes-Pina, Kell said.
“Over the past four months, our investigators have requested and obtained 13 search warrants which have resulted in the arrest of 18 individuals who have subsequently been charged with crimes ranging from trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of controlled dangerous substances with the intent to distribute to possession of stolen property,” Kell said.
“Through the continued efforts of our deputies and their commitment to this investigation, we believe we now have apprehended several of the individuals responsible for a large portion of the illegal drug sales in Grady County.”
Reyes-Pina reportedly admitted his involvement in the drug trade to law enforcement following his arrest.
Grady County District Attorney Bret Burns commended the sheriff’s department for the investigation and resulting arrests.
“I think the deputies did a good job sticking with this case and working with other agencies as a team to catch these drug dealers.
“These defendants need to be sent to prison for an extended stay,” Burns said.
Sheriff’s deputies not only received and followed up on information involving the sale of illegal drugs in this county, but that information also led to the recovery of stolen property.
“We have also recovered more than $100,000 worth of property stolen from Grady County and surrounding counties, including flatbed trailers, a travel trailer, oil field equipment, tools, welders and generators,” Kell said. “Information provided to the sheriff’s department was the that property was stolen for the purpose of trading it for drugs or the stolen property was sold in order to purchase drugs with the proceeds.”
Kell said his department is seeking the forfeiture of Reyes-Pina’s 15 acre farm east of Chickasha based upon the sale of drugs by Reyes-Pina from the farm.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
