14 arrested on meth charges

Published 4:56 pm Saturday, May 2, 2009

A federal investigation by the North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force led to meth charges against 14 people Thursday. Nine people were arrested and five are wanted on arrest warrants.

They were charged with conspiracy to make 5 grams or more of pure methamphetamine and to manufacture a mixture containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

According to a news release from the North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the charges stem from purchases of pseudoephedrine pills in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota for the purpose of making meth.

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People with information about the five wanted people are asked to contact their local law enforcement agency or the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office. The task force chairman is Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals.

The five wanted on arrest warrants (all cities are in Iowa) are:

Terry James Langfit, 22, unknown address

 Adam James Rollins, 29, Mason City

 Jesse Lee Smoot, 25, Clarksville

Michael Arthur Rasmussen, 31, Charles City

 Tonya Lynn Stevens, 40, Plymouth

The nine arrested on Thursday are:

Angela Jean Tonelli, 40, Charles City

 Angela Jo Ferch, 37, Charles City

 Timothy Wayne Berk, 32, Charles City

Ashley Elizabeth Mehmen, 22, Charles City

Joshua Allen Griffin, 23, Charles City

Melinda Sue Fisher, 29, Charles City

 Jesse James Holder, 71, Mason City

 Joann Holder, 55, Mason City

Douglas John Pennington, 31, Mason City (presently in state prison system)

The cases are to be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for northern Iowa.

Agencies assisting in the investigation were Charles City Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Mason City Police Department, Iowa National Guard, South Central and Southeastern Minnesota narcotics task forces and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.