Six people were charged for distributing cocaine and methamphetamine as a result of a Wednesday drug sweep in Albert Lea.

Sunday, April 01, 2001

Six people were charged for distributing cocaine and methamphetamine as a result of a Wednesday drug sweep in Albert Lea.

The sweep, which involved 13 arrests and will likely lead to several more, was the area’s largest in recent history, and should substantially decrease the amount of illegal substances available in the area, police said.

Of the six individuals charged last week, two were charged with first-degree sale of a controlled substance for allegedly selling undercover operatives a substantial amount of cocaine and methamphetamine this March, police said.

Juan Jose Garza, 38, of 290 Broadway, was charged with five counts of sale of a controlled substance for allegedly selling undercover officers cocaine and methamphetamine. The charges included one first degree charge, and three second degree charges.

Garza allegedly sold officers 12.6 total grams of cocaine and 3.6 grams of methamphetamine at the Palace Bar and private residences between March 12 and March 28.

Armando Molina Alvarez, 47, of 326 Court Street, was charged with seven counts of sale of cocaine, including one count of first-degree, and three counts of second-degree sales, for allegedly selling undercover officers an estimated total of 19.5 grams of cocaine between March 19 and March 27. The sales allegedly took place at or near the Palace Bar, or McDonald’s, in Albert Lea.

Alvarez and Garza appeared before a third district court judge Friday afternoon. Because of the severity of their alleged crimes, bail was set for each at $75,000.

&uot;Under the circumstances, because of the serious nature of the charge, I believe that $75,000 bail is a reasonable amount to ensure that you return to court and obey the law,&uot; the judge said.

Garza and Alvarez are scheduled to reappear in court on April 9.

Four other people arrested in the sweep were charged Thursday for drug violations:

-Fred Lopez, 33, of 133 West William St. Apt. 102 was charged with third-degree sale of a controlled substance for allegedly selling an undercover officer two grams of cocaine in the alley behind the Palace Bar on March 20. He was also charged with aiding and abetting the sale of cocaine. Lopez’ bail was set at $20,000.

-Jose Melendez, also known as Eduardo Olmedo, Eddie O, or Rico, 28, of 212 South Washington, was charged with third-degree sale of a controlled substance, sale of cocaine, for allegedly selling a gram of cocaine to an undercover operative at a private residence on March 19. Melendez was also charged with aiding and abetting the sale of cocaine in connection with a March 5th sale at the Palace Bar. His bail was set at $10,000.

-Alexis Maria Rodriguez, also known as Maria Alejandria Chavez, 31, of 212 South Washington, was charged with third degree sale of cocaine. She was also charged with aiding and abetting sale of cocaine in connection with a March 19 sale at a private residence, police said. Her bail was set at $10,000.

-Rita Vanesa McGhee Lopez, 37, of 419 Commercial, was charged with third-degree sale of a controlled substance, for allegedly selling undercover officers one gram of cocaine at a private residence on March 20. Her bail was set at $5,000.

All four are scheduled to reappear in court on April 9.

The arrests resulted from a month-long South Central Drug Task Force investigation of alleged drug trafficking, focusing on persons distributing narcotics from the Palace Bar, 134 West William St.

Investigators spent $2,960 purchasing drugs on 18 different occasions in March, 11 buys allegedly took place at the Palace Bar.

Owners and employees of the bar were not implicated in the investigation, police said.