90 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico were seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration during a drug bust in Federal Way.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged Ricardo Zepeda, 38, of Tukwila and Jesus Martinez-Marquez of unincorporated King County, specifically near the border of Auburn in Lakeland North, with conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to federal court documents, these charges stem from a Sept. 25 incident in which Zepeda and Martinez-Marquez sold 90 pounds of methamphetamine in a Federal Way Walmart parking lot, 1900 S. 314th St.
According to documents, through investigation, officers learned that Zepeda was receiving up to 100 pounds of methamphetamine weekly from Mexico. However, he said that crossing drugs into the United States had become increasingly difficult. Documents state that Zepeda was setting up a deal with a buyer to sell methamphetamine, and he said that he was currently receiving 80 to 100 pounds of methamphetamine a week. Zepeda told the buyer that he could only sell to them about twice a month because Zepeda had other customers who needed to receive drugs, too.
According to documents, Zepeda would be selling his methamphetamine at about $1,350 a pound. This would make 90 pounds of methamphetamine worth $121,500.
Documents state that on Aug. 19, Zepeda agreed to sell 90 pounds of methamphetamine to the buyer, and they agreed to meet on Sept. 25 at the Commons Mall in Federal Way. Documents state that Zepeda and the buyer ultimately decided to meet at the Walmart parking lot in Federal Way instead.
At about 2:51 p.m. Sept. 25, Zepeda, along with Martinez-Marquez in a separate vehicle, arrived at Walmart. Documents state that Zepeda and Martinez-Marquez subsequently had the buyer enter Martinez-Marquez’s truck to inspect the methamphetamine that he would buy.
After the buyer looked at the methamphetamine, Drug Enforcement Administration investigators, assisted by Federal Way police officers, arrested Zepeda and Martinez-Marquez without incident. Documents state that a K9 sniffed Martinez-Marquez’s truck, alerted that there were drugs in it ,and then officers retrieved 90 pounds of methamphetamine from the truck. Documents state that officers also located a 9mm pistol from the rear pocket of the front passenger seat of the truck.
Officers questioned Zepeda, and he said that he was mixed up in a bad situation and only agreed to do what he did because an unidentified individual in Mexico pressured him. Documents state that Zepeda acknowledged that he knew there were drugs in the truck and that he was helping the unknown person in Mexico, but he then declined to answer further questions. Documents state that Martinez-Marquez declined to answer any questions.
