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.
