BREAKING NEWS: Raids net 15 arrests in Newton, Jasper counties
Fri Apr 18, 2008, 03:08 PM CDT 
A total of 15 people, 10 in Newton County alone, were arrested in a drug sweep early Friday morning.
Several area, state and federal agencies took part in the sweep, conducted after an 18-month investigation into the Mexican ice trade in Newton and Jasper counties.
Arrested on federal drug charges were Ernesto Garza, 22, and Eleazar Ortega, 33, both of Neosho. The two are currently in federal custody in Springfield, according to Eric R. Siweck, resident agent in charge at the Springfield resident office of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
Also arrested in the sweep on drug charges were April Love, 21, of Neosho; Genovero Coronado, 33, of Neosho; Nathaniel Reagh, 24, of Neosho; Belinda Olson of Duenweg; Billy Coleman, Duenweg; Andres Layton, Joplin; Roberto Rivera, Joplin; and Milthon Marchant, Joplin.
Several Neosho area residents were also arrested on charges they were in the United States illegally. Those arrested were Maria Rodriguez, 36; Roel Garza Jr., 20; Montzerrat Mota, 18; Marco Diaz, 31; and Maria Rodriguez, 44.
At approximately 6 a.m. Friday, agents conducted two drug sweeps — one in Jasper County, the other in Newton County — seizing one vehicle, a quarter ounce of meth, $15,000 in cash, and two pounds of marijuana. The vehicle, $13,000 in cash, and some meth were seized in Newton County, according to Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland.
Agencies participating in the raids were the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Neosho Police Department, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the Jasper County Drug Task Force, the Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the federal Agency of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Joplin Police Department, the Eastern Shawnee Tribal Police, the U.S. Customs Service, the Duenweg Police Department; and the federal Agency of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Seven residences and businesses in Newton County were included in the sweep, including Vernado’s Tire Shop, located at 1019 S. Neosho Boulevard.
More on the story will be in Sunday’s print and on-line editions of the Neosho Daily News.
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