Posted on 03/13/2024 7:05:56 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A Mexican drug trafficker faces the potential of decades in federal prison after the Drug Enforcement Agency arrested him for peddling fentanyl from a homeless encampment in Bellingham.
Prosecutors say Rigoberto Vasquez-Martinez, 32, had a "fortified compound" inside the encampment, which included armed security around the structure where he stayed.
The city of Bellingham is in the process of trying to clear the encampment behind the Walmart on Stuart Road after years of shootings, explosions, overdoses, and drug crimes.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle, Vasquez-Martinez was a significant supplier of drugs in Bellingham and operated his network from within the encampment.
Police had Vasquez-Martinez on their radar and arrested him in Oregon while he was returning from a drug run to California.
"When Vasquez-Martinez’s car was searched, law enforcement found more than seven kilos of fentanyl pills—more than 65,000 pills in all," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. "Vasquez-Martinez admits he was on his way back to Western Washington to distribute the fentanyl. They also seized $3,000 in cash and multiple cell phones."
"On that same day, law enforcement searched a storage locker in Lynnwood registered to Vasquez-Martinez’s wife," the statement continued. "In it, they found three kilos of fentanyl powder, 300 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 1.9 kilograms of heroin, and a 9mm handgun and $46,000 in cash. Vasquez-Martinez admits that 9mm handgun was used in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities."
Vasquez-Martinez pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug trafficking and firearm charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in June.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said they plan to recommend a sentence of 10 years in prison, but a judge could sentence Vasquez-Martinez on some of the charges to 40 years or more.
Prosecutors said Vasquez-Martinez is a citizen of Mexico but did not clarify if he is in the United States legally.
This story has it all!
Hunter Biden will probably fly out to get some pointers from this guy.
You forgot his “fortified compound”, 1990s era Clinton administration talk for any place his political enemies lived.
Yes. Film reference——
Super Troopers (2002)
“Young men share a joint while driving. Mike eats a bag of marijuana to avoid detection by police. One of them offers him another bag.”
Because the other guys spent money on the dope they later ask the victim kid to pay for some of the stash he ate.
explosions ???
Their fairy tales. Our dollars and lives. My guess is that Cartels are in a power struggle and the feds are working on behalf of the side that bribes best.
Meth labs?
Soooo….how sorry are we supposed to feel for the people in these “homeless”encampments if some of the residents are able to have storage units with 30,000 in cash and don’t pay taxes because they really aren’t technically here. LOL! What a racket! Send the whole family back to Mexico and arm the border. It’s a war. His wife probably lives in a free house, they aren’t technically married so she gets a shitload in freebies from the government too. I bet her ballot is already filled out for senor Biden by the ballot harvesters.
Just shoot him in the face and leave him to rot.
L
Reminds me of Willie Collins and the Andersonville Raiders. Living in the midst of misery and getting rich off it.
I'm glad the local authorities don't act too hastily.
Just a wild guess here that the answer would be "No".
Hunter Biden can probably give the guy pointers being a lot higher up the criminal food chain.
Bringing it all to America, thanks joe
The encampment behind the Walmart is the new van down by the river.
AND A WIFE WHO RENTS the STORAGE LOCKER !!!!!
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