The Tri-NET Narcotic Task Force, working in conjunction with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Street Enforcement Team (SET), the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, and the Santa Cruz California Police Department arrested 26 year-old Joseph Perez and 25 year-old Oscar Madriz, both of Santa Cruz, California, on charges of trafficking and sales of cocaine. The arrests were made on March 2.
The arrests came as the culmination of a month long investigation into cocaine being transported to and distributed out of the Lake Tahoe area of Stateline, Nev., in Douglas County from California. As a result of the investigation, four felony arrests were made, and a seizure of approximately 255 grams of Cocaine, with a street value of $25,500, was completed. In addition to the seizure of the cocaine detectives seized a vehicle, a firearm, and miscellaneous U.S. currency.
At the time of the arrests, Madriz, an ex-felon out of California, was found possessing a loaded semi-automatic handgun. He was additionally charged for that offense.
Subsequent follow-up led detectives to a secondary hotel room in Stateline on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. A search warrant was obtained and the secondary location was searched with additional Cocaine, small amounts of Marijuana, and various drug paraphernalia also being recovered. 28 year-old Tyler Silveira and 27 year-old Joaquin Lara, also from Santa Cruz California, were arrested at this secondary location.
Joseph Perez was charged with Trafficking a Controlled Substance (level III), Sales of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell and Conspiracy to Violate the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act.
Oscar Madriz was charged with Trafficking a Controlled Substance (level III), Sales of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell, Conspiracy to Violate the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act, and being and Ex-Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Tyler Silveira and Joaquin Lara were both charges with Trafficking a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Marijuana.
All four suspects were booked into the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Lake Jail.
In the State of Nevada, a conviction for a level III Trafficking charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of twenty five years to life in prison, with possibility of parole after serving ten years.
The Tri-NET Narcotic Task Force in made up of members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada National Guard Counter Drug Support Program, and the State of Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Investigation Division (DPS ID). The Task Force is supervised by Nevada DPS ID, and supported by the Office of Criminal Justice Assistance.
If the public has information related to drug activity within the Douglas County, Carson City or Lyon County areas, they are urged to contact Tri-NET at 775-684-7440, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Street Enforcement Team (DCSET) at 775-782-9848, or Douglas County Secret Witness line at 775-78-CRIME (775-782-7463).