7 Statesville men arrested in drug probe

Iredell County sheriff’s investigators have arrested and charged seven Statesville men and seized about $1 million worth of crystal methamphetamine during a two-month undercover drug investigation.

The six pounds of crystal meth had a purity of at least 95 percent, Sheriff Daren Campbell said Friday. Investigators also seized three vehicles, a handgun and $3,750 of crack cocaine, Campbell said.

Charged with conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance were Eric Germaine Summers 28, Jose Duenas-Intriago, 21, Carlos Antonio Flores-Cano, 33, Juan Ernesto Ortiz Rodriguez, 29, and Jesus Cristino Perales, 24. Flores-Cano is a known gang member, Campbell said. All five are in federal custody and were jailed without bail.

Rigoberto Portillo-Ramirez, 34, and Jario Leonel Vasques-Espinosa, 20, were each charged with possession of methamphetamine, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were jailed on $25,000 bails.

Perales and Vasques-Espinosa have immigration detainers, meaning Immigration and Customs Enforcement has requested taking custody of them if they’re released from local custody.

Joe Marusak

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 4:22 PM with the headline "7 Statesville men arrested in drug probe."