Investigators with the Bartholomew County’s Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, along with other law enforcement agencies, arrested six people and recovered 1 and a half pounds of methamphetamine and three guns after serving a search warrant at an east-side Columbus home.
The search warrant was served at a residence on South Mapleton Street, with JNET being assisted by Columbus police, Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies, Indiana State Police, the U.S. Postal Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
During a search, officers recovered the methamphetamine with a street value of more than $30,000 along with the firearms.
Arrested were:
- David Oswaldo Cornejo, 41, Columbus, on preliminary charges of felony dealing in methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine and felony maintaining a common nuisance.
- Fernando Lopez-Mendez, 37, Columbus, on preliminary charges of felony dealing in methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine and felony maintaining a common nuisance.
- Mirna Benitez-Paz, 42, Columbus on a preliminary charge of felony maintaining a common nuisance.
- Isabel Benitez-Paz, 38, Columbus, on a preliminary charge of felony maintaining a common nuisance.
- Michell Vasqez Benitez, 19, Columbus, on a preliminary charge of misdemeanor visiting a common nuisance.
- Rogelio Moreno Benitez, 19, Columbus, on a preliminary charge of misdemeanor visiting a common nuisance.
In an unrelated case, on Tuesday, Columbus police and Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies stopped a vehicle on State Street in Columbus, where a quarter pound of methamphetamine was found, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
- Federico E. Reyes, 39, Columbus, was arrested on a preliminary charge of felony possession of methamphetamine.
For more on these incidents, see Friday’s Republic.
