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SALT LAKE CITY — Four of the 10 men arrested last week in what police called a "drive-up" heroin operation are facing felony charges.
Carlos Santiago-Castenada, 28, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with pattern of unlawful activity, money laundering, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute, all first-degree felonies; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.
Alejandro Perez-Cardenas, 25, and Jose Cordero-Olvera, 29, were also charged with pattern of unlawful activity, money laundering and two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
Jose Meza, 22, was also charged with a pattern of unlawful activity, a first-degree felony.
The drive-up operation allowed buyers to call "dispatchers," place an order and receive a location for pickup, where they would be handed their order via a "runner," according to court documents.
Meza worked as a dispatcher in the convenient system, answering phone calls and placing orders, charges state. Perez-Cardenas was hired as a money manager who hid and transferred the money to suppliers in Mexico. Cordero-Olvera met with runners periodically throughout the day to resupply them with drugs and collect the money they had earned. Santiago-Castenada supplied the organization with cocaine and heroin and was in direct contact with suppliers, according to charging documents.
Six other men were arrested in what police called a "dial-a-dope" operation: Victor Peres-Cardenas, 20; Jose Arciniega-Nuno, 31; Enrique Ojeda, 24; Luis Mercedes-Padilla, 32; Alberto Fragozo-Ortega, 25; and Alberto Fragozo-Ortega, 25. They have not yet been charged.
