Eight Defendants Charged in Joint Federal and State Investigation of Drug Trafficking Organization

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Eight defendants are facing criminal charges as part of a joint federal and state investigation of a cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization. Criminal complaints unsealed in the United States District Court in Des Moines and United States District Court for Central District of California charge eight defendants with federal drug offenses. Many of the federal defendants were arrested today, and preliminary and detention hearings will be held early next week.

The charges were announced by Marc Krickbaum, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa; Bryan VanDuen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Omaha Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Dana Wingert, Chief of Police of the Des Moines Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Story County Sheriff’s Office; and the Altoona Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell and Kristin Herrera represent the government.

Eight federal defendants are charged across two complaint affidavits, stemming from a months-long investigation of RAYLON CANADA and his associated cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization. The primary complaint (Case Nos. 4:19-MJ-357 through 363) alleges that CANADA, 28, of Des Moines, has been involved in the distribution of cocaine since before October 2018. On March 26, 2019, the day prior to a law enforcement action that resulted in the arrest of numerous members of the Des Moines-based criminal street gang C-Block, law enforcement obtained court authorization to intercept telephone communications of CANADA.

The primary complaint alleges that CANADA began receiving cocaine in the mail from a California-based source of supply in April 2019. This source was later identified as PEDRO BUSTAMANTE MACHUCA, 28, of Los Angeles, who was arrested today in conjunction with the Des Moines arrests. BUSTAMANTE will have his initial appearance in Central District of California before reporting to Des Moines.

The complaints identify additional customers and redistributors of controlled substances who have been charged with drug conspiracy and distribution:

• TERIKAH MEIKETIA MAHANEY, 26, of Des Moines

• MICHELLE LEE MIRELES, 39, of Des Moines

• ERIC ELMONT BOWMAN, 33, of Des Moines

• KATARIO WADE PATTON, 48, of West Des Moines

• MARVIN HAYGOOD, JR., 33, of Des Moines

• JOSEPH MANUEL JONES, 47, of Des Moines

The months-long investigation culminated in the execution of federal narcotics and firearms search warrants on June 6, 2019, at the following locations:

• 1200 block of East 18th Street, Des Moines

• 2700 block of Southwest 9th Street, Des Moines

• 3000 block of Wright Street, Des Moines

• 2800 block of 53rd Street, Des Moines

• 400 block of East Pleasant View Drive, Des Moines

• 400 block of East Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines

• 4000 block of EP True Parkway, West Des Moines

• 2800 block of Southeast 19th Street, Des Moines

• 900 block of Northeast 56th Street, Pleasant Hill

• 4000 block of Hubbell Avenue, Des Moines

• 2800 block of Southeast 20th Street, Des Moines

• 600 block of Cutler Avenue, Des Moines

The charges in the complaints carry a maximum penalties of twenty years’ imprisonment. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.