Meth bust at Linda eatery
Restaurant is across from school, near sheriff’s substation
Four men were arrested for alleged selling methamphetamine at a restaurant across the street from a Linda school, authorities said Tuesday.
The Yuba-Sutter Narcotic Enforcement Team, or NET-5, initially received information in November that Almiro Gonzalez, 42, of Wheatland was selling meth out of his restaurant, Taqueria Gonzalez, in the 5700 block of Arboga Road, "from street-level sales to large amounts," said NET-5 Commander Mike Hudson.
The restaurant is "directly across" from New Life Christian School, he said.
"Based on our investigation, (Gonzalez has) been selling drugs out of his business since he owned it," Hudson said. "And that's been over a year. Across the street from that school."
New Life Christian School officials declined to comment.
Hudson said the restaurant also is about 1,000 feet from the Yuba County Sheriff's Department substation on Feather River Boulevard.
"Once we initiated the case in November of last year, they were fully aware of the case," Hudson said. "We kept Sheriff (Steve) Durfor updated on the progress of the case."
An undercover Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agent made two 2-ounce meth purchases from Gonzalez at the restaurant for $3,200 each in January, and negotiated a future purchase of 2 pounds of meth, Hudson said.
The agent arranged for the 2-pound sale to take place in the parking lot of FoodMaxx. Once Gonzalez delivered the drugs, he and another Wheatland resident with him, 26-year-old Edwardo Padilla-Torres, were taken into custody about 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Hudson put the street value of the 2 pounds at $70,000, and said to charge $48,000 as the wholesale rate was quite high.
"The guy was charging us $24,000 a pound, which is outrageous," he said.
Prior to Gonzalez delivering the drugs, officers on surveillance saw Gonzalez receive the drugs from two men, Edgar Ramos, 35, of Pico Rivera and Othon Pena-Maldonado, 36, who gave an address in Mexico, Hudson said. The two were taken into custody on a traffic stop in Lincoln.
A search of Taqueria Gonzalez found an additional small amount of methamphetamine and a search of Gonzalez's Wheatland home turned up $7,800 in drug proceeds, Hudson said.
The four suspects were booked into the Yuba County Jail on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and transportation of methamphetamine.
Gonzalez was also booked on suspicion of distributing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
All four also have immigration holds, Hudson said.
Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Robert LaHue at 749-4713 or rlahue@appealdemocrat.com.
