About the only piece of evidence the prosecution didn’t have in the murder case against 20-year-old Patrick Fluker was an eyewitness testifying that he was seen shooting 29-year-old Tiffany Mendez in the head.Six people have been arrested in connection with a yearlong federal investigation into a methamphetamine distribution ring operating in northeast Indiana.
According to documents unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Fort Wayne, the indictments were for charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, using a telephone to facilitate distribution of a controlled substance and profiting from maintaining a drug residence.
Indicted on two counts – conspiracy and maintaining a drug residence – were Beatriz Bojorquez, 32, of the 10000 block of Old Woods Road; Benjamin A. VanAllen, 31, of the 7600 block of Woodbine Avenue; and Adrian A. Juarez, 35, of the 1600 block of East Hollis Lane.
Gary R. Bitzell, 41, of the 6700 block of Goldenrod Place, was indicted on five counts of using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine.
The grand jury indicted James B. Morris II, 32, of Butler, on four counts of distributing methamphetamine.
Jorge Rosas-Ramirez, 36, of the 10000 block of Old Woods Road, was also arrested in connection with the investigation, charged in a federal criminal complaint with five counts of distributing methamphetamine.
FBI officials said the methamphetamine was not homemade, but more pure, and worth about $20,000 a pound.
The investigation was conducted by members of the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force, made up of agents and officers from Indiana State Police, Allen County Police Department and Fort Wayne Police Department. The Indiana Multi-Agency Group Enforcement (IMAGE) Drug Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service also assisted in the investigation.
According to the indictments, Bojorquez maintained a building in the 10000 block of Old Woods Road for storing, distributing and using a controlled substance.
VanAllen is accused of maintaining a building in the 7600 block of Woodbine Avenue for storing, distributing and using a controlled substance, according to court documents.
A number of the indictments seek forfeiture of property alleged to have been acquired through drug profit money, including two motorcycles and five cars and trucks, according to court documents.
For more on this story, see Thursday's print editions of The Journal Gazette or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Thursday.
rgreen@jg.net
