Feds indict six in W’burg drug scheme by mail

 Six people were named in an indictment returned last Thursday in federal court alleging a conspiracy to traffic heroin and/or methamphetamine in Whitley County after receiving the drugs in the mail.

Five of the individuals: Larry Gutierrez, 53, Tony G. Petrey, 41, David W. Powers, 46, Jessie C. Mays, 33 and Mary Patricia Cureton, 40, are charged with conspiracy to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

Gutierrez, Petrey and May were each also indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin and using the U.S. Mail to facilitate the commission of a felony.

According to an affidavit filed by U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Todd Tremaine, the case began on Feb. 19, 2014 when he was contacted by Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird regarding potential drug activity at Petrey’s residence, after officers had been out there earlier to investigate a complaint.

Tremaine stated that while they were at the residence Williamsburg Police had asked Petrey if he had any drugs on his person.

“Petrey admitted to have drugs in his pocket,” Tremaine stated. “Petrey permitted officers to search his person and they recovered small amounts of suspect crystal methamphetamine and heroin, both packaged for resell.”

Police arrested Petrey along with his girlfriend, Mary Cureton, who had an outstanding warrant.

Tremaine noted when Cureton was booked into the Whitley County Detention Center; jail staff reported finding a substance suspected to be crystal meth in her purse.

Petrey was initially taken to the Williamsburg Police Department where he agreed to speak with Tremaine.

Tremaine said Petrey told him that he had met Gutierrez while he was in prison. Gutierrez, who was living in California at the time, was mailing meth and heroin to Petrey in Whitley County for him to sell.

“Petrety said he would send MoneyGram money orders to Gutierrez and, in return, Gutierrez would then ship him the drugs through the United States Postal Service,” Tremaine stated in the complaint filed in federal court, noting the methamphetamine was shipped in amounts up to 3 ounces and the heroin came in amounts up to one-half ounce.

Tremaine stated that Petrey sold the drugs throughout Whitley County and that Powers and Mays were among his largest customers of the methamphetamine.

During an interview with Powers at his residence on Feb. 20, Tremaine stated Powers admitted to receiving meth from Petrey five to six times over a period of four to five months.

“Powers later admitted to providing crystal meth to girls in exchange for sex,” Tremaine stated.

On Feb. 25, Tremaine stated that ATF agents along with local law enforcement conducted a similar interview with Mays at his residence. Mays also admitted to receiving meth from Petrey on multiple occasions.

“Mays admitted to selling some of the crystal meth and using, ‘a lot of it,’” Tremaine stated. Mays further admitted to having wired money to Petrey’s source of supply in California on Petrey’s behalf in the past.”

That same day, Tremaine stated that $1,000 in ATF authorized funds, were wired via MoneyGram to a, “Roxanne Medina.” Petrey sent a sent a text message to Gutierrez with a confirmation number and the money was picked up shortly thereafter at a Walmart in Cucamonga, Calif. Video surveillance from the store reportedly showed Gutierrez and an unidentified female picking up the cash.

MoneyGram officials told Tremaine that Petrey first wired money to California on Dec. 23, 2013 to a “Tammy Gutierrez.” A total of eight wire transfers were made between Dec. 23, 2013 and Feb. 11, 2014.

While not charged in the conspiracy, Robert Scott Sheppard, 38, is named in the indictment on charges of being an convicted felon in possession of a firearm and

Shepherd and Powers are also charged with possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug crime, based upon multiple loaded weapons law enforcement reported finding at their residences during the investigation.

Mays and Sheppard were arraigned Friday in London. Powers is scheduled to be arraigned today. No other court dates have been set.

If convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine or heroin, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. If a defendant has a prior drug conviction, he or she faces up to 30 years in prison and fine of up to $2 million.