Federal Grand Jury Indicts 19 For Drug Trafficking In Eastern Oklahoma

The Department of Justice announced the indictment of 19 people on drug charges, something the DEA is calling a major victory for rural Oklahoma.

Federal prosecutors said they can rest rest easier knowing 19 drug traffickers are off the streets and DEA agents said with their new rural task force, other traffickers can no longer hide in rural Oklahoma.

"If you're going to distribute and try to traffic methamphetamine and other drugs in rural Oklahoma, that's no longer acceptable," said DEA Special Agent in Charge John Scott.  

Scott said their 18-month investigation is over after the challenging task of finding and charging 19 people for trafficking drugs across the rural parts of Eastern Oklahoma.

"It makes a huge dent in the supply chain, and those distribution networks suffer greatly when you are able to take 19 defendants off the streets that were operating with trafficking drugs in our neighborhoods," Scott added. 

Investigators said Eric Castillo helped get drugs from Mexico and then other members used houses in rural counties to distribute the drugs. Scott said stash houses in rural areas have become a new trend.

"You don't see the massive amounts methamphetamine in the rural areas, but it still does just as much damage because you have less people in those rural areas less dope goes a lot further," Scott said.

U.S. Attorney Brian Kuester, Eastern District of Oklahoma, said this is a major victory.

"Anything that brings law enforcement resources together to address a common problem in Oklahoma is a great thing and it's exciting for me to see," Kuester said.

 Kuester added that even though their focus has been on the new violent crime cases being filed by his office since the Supreme Court Ruling on tribal jurisdiction, they are determined to stop drug traffickers because drugs lead to lots of other crimes, including violence and theft.  

"It is a challenge to try and shift gears and move away from the violent crime in Indian country, which is predominately taking a lot of our time, but it has to be done. We have to do this with our law enforcement partners which are dedicated to apprehending federal drug laws," Kuester said. 

You can read the Department of Justice release announcing the indictment below or read the full indictment here.