Four county residents will face federal drug charges

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Jackson County Sheriff's Office deputies assisted agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the State Bureau of Investigations in the roundup of suspected drug dealers, said Sheriff Jimmy Ashe. Other agencies involved included both the Macon and Swain county sheriff's offices, Cherokee Police Department, U.S. Marshals and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group, a Buncombe County drug task force.

Last week's arrests followed federal indictments of individuals in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties on drug conspiracy charges. The indictments were filed under seal in U.S. District Court on April 7 and unsealed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Max Cogburn on May 1.

Searches and arrests began at 6 a.m. last Thursday in Jackson County, Ashe said, concentrating in the areas of Sylva, Cullowhee and Cherokee. Individuals arrested were transported to the federal holding facility in Asheville. Most of the defendants have made initial appearances in U.S. District Court.

Arrested were John Robert Ayen, 25, of Sylva; Judy Darnell Bird, 46, Cherokee; Herman Crespo, 26, Marietta, Ga.; Patricia Lemly Elliott, 49, Cullowhee; Robert Ethan Holden, 30, Bryson City; Robert Wayne Lee, 54, Otto; Manuel Rojas Rodriguez, 34, address unknown; Eduardo Izeta Rosales, 29, McAllen, Texas; Jesus Izeta Rosales, 28, McAllen, Texas; Bennie Marson Teesateskie, 24, Cherokee; Jose Maria Mange Yanez, 40, Houston; and Martha Isela Yanez, 29, McAllen, Texas.

According to the indictment, the defendants are alleged to have participated in a methamphetamine conspiracy starting in January 1994 in the three counties and on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. The indictment also alleges that two individuals - Bird and Teesateskie - received a stolen firearm.

"Last week's arrests resulted from the continuation of a multi-agency cooperative effort to combat illegal drugs," Sheriff Ashe said. "The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected."

If convicted of drug conspiracy, with which all 12 defendants were charged, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment and up to an $8 million fine, according to U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Suellen Pierce. The stolen firearm charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.

"Under U.S. sentencing guidelines, an actual sentence is based upon a formula that takes into account the severity and characteristics of the offense and the defendant's criminal history, if any," Pierce said.

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