Significant dent on the Lake Geneva drug scene
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Marcus A. Fernandez
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Francis J. Serna
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Javier B. Villegas
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Eduardo Aranda
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Erick F. Alfaro
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Bradley Skipper
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Justin Peter
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Karl Garcia
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Richard W. Miller II
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Nathan Etheridge
LAKE GENEVA — Law enforcement agencies made a significant dent on the Lake Geneva drug scene this week, an official said.
It isn’t every day that 11 drug dealers are taken down from the same community, Deputy District Attorney Joshua Grube said.
“This is one of the round-ups where from time to time, we go to a particular community and arrest all of the drug dealers that we have controlled buys on,” Grube said.
Controlled buy involve a police informant buying drugs using pre-recorded currency and turning over the drugs to the police.
The Tuesday arrests ended a six-month investigation conducted by the Lake Geneva Police Department, Walworth County Drug Enforcement Unit and the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office.
Five cocaine dealers, two heroin dealers and four marijuana dealers were taken into custody. Officers and deputies confiscated vehicles, drug paraphernalia and thousands of dollars in currency believed to have come from drug deals.
“It makes an impact and lets the community know we take this seriously,” said Grube, who prosecutes most drug cases in Walworth County.
Grube said one of the most notorious dealers, Francis J. Serna, known on the streets as “Chanto,” was caught selling upward of 14 grams of cocaine. Each gram is worth about $100 when cut and packaged separately.
In three controlled buys, Serna sold 6.7 grams, 6.9 grams and 14 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant, according to a criminal complaint. He is being held on a $25,000 cash bond.
Eduardo Aranda, 23, of 4046 Wells St., Lake Geneva, is accused of selling four bags of cocaine weighing 2.4, 0.8, 1.3 and 0.6 grams respectively. He is being held on a $15,000 cash bond.
“None of these people were caught with kilos, so they’re not at the very top of the cocaine dealing world,” Grube said. “But they’re still busy, street-level dealers that are causing lots of problems in our community, and they needed to be arrested and confined.”
In recent years, Walworth County law enforcement agencies have shifted resources to combat heroin, which has become more widespread in the region. The highly addictive drug has been linked to more than eight deaths in Walworth County and 11 Rock County deaths.
With five of the 11 arrested men dealing cocaine, Grube said the operation also shows how much cocaine is still infiltrated in Walworth County.
“We really focused efforts on cocaine and heroin,” he said. “And it looks like six cocaine dealers were taken out of the community in one day.
“That’s got to have a significant impact.”
The sixth cocaine dealer was arrested a day after the Tuesday bust. Police say Octavio Torres-Cortes, 20, of W891 Primrose Road, Genoa City, was working with Erick Alfaro, 21, of N3347 Juniper Road, Lake Geneva. The men are charged with delivering cocaine.
Police say they also arrested two other partners in crime: Aranda was working with Javier Villegas, 21, of 24 Darwin St., Lake Geneva, who is accused of separately selling three bags of cocaine weighing 2.4, 1.3 and 0.6 grams respectively.
DRUG SUSPECTS
Arrested by Walworth County, state and federal authorities this week were:
Marcus A. Fernandez, 20, of 1271 Wisconsin St., Apt. B., Lake Geneva. Charged with three counts of delivery of heroin. Held on $10,000 cash bond.
Francis J. Serna, 27, of 1157 S. Wells St., Apt. 6, Lake Geneva. Charged with three counts of delivery of cocaine. Held on $25,000 cash bond.
Javier B. Villegas, 21, of 24 Darwin St., Lake Geneva. Charged with three counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession with intent to deliver and one count of delivery of marijuana. Held on $10,000 cash bond.
Eduardo Aranda, 23, of 406 Wells St., Lake Geneva. Charged with four counts of delivery of cocaine. Held on $15,000 cash bond.
Erick F. Alfaro, 21, of N3347 Juniper Road, Lake Geneva. Charged with delivery of cocaine. Held on $3,000 cash bond and probation violation.
Joseph L. Decaro, 20, of N1473 Jade Lane, Pell Lake. Charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin. Released on $1,000 cash bond.
Bradley K. Skipper, 39, of 1821 Conant St., Lake Geneva. Charged with delivery of cocaine, manufacturing marijuana and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Released on $1,000 cash bond.
Justin T. Peters, 17, of 1019 Pleasant St., Lake Geneva. Charged with manufacturing marijuana. Released on signature bond.
Karl Garcia, 22, of 1306 Park Row, Lake Geneva. Charged with three counts of delivery of marijuana. Released on signature bond.
Richard W. Miller II, 19, of 130 South 7th St., Delavan. Charged with two counts of delivery of marijuana. Released on signature bond.
Nathan M. Etheridge, 18, of 1019 Dorwood Drive, Lake Geneva. Charged with two counts of delivery of marijuana. Released on signature bond.
Nov 15, 2009 at 8:26 p.m.
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localguy1,
I never once advocated the legalization of cocaine or heroin. I never will, either. Those drugs really are terrible drugs, and should stay illegal. I am very much for the legalization of marijuana, though. If they legalized marijuana, -that- would make some big waves in the war on drugs. Why would I move to another country to smoke marijuana, though? I could go to one of the many states where it's legalized for medical use. Heck, I could just live in Dane County. At least there, if I get caught with a smaller amount, all I get is a ticket. That's a heck of a lot better than Rock County, and I don't have to go far from home. The truth is, though, marijuana needs to be legalized across the board. Pretty soon, half of the states will have marijuana legalized in one form or another. Once this is done, the country will have to legalize it.
Nov 9, 2009 at 8:24 p.m.
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Kid, Kai, and especially Twain--any of you know of any countries where cocaine, heroin, or even pot is legal? If so, might I suggest you move there and partake in all the drug use you feel like. It amazes me that every single artical regarding a drug bust turns into a forum about your beliefs about legalizing and taxing drug sales. Good job by the good guys. I've said it before and I'll say it again--I could care less what your personal preference is. Do what makes you happy. Smoke pot, snort coke, shoot heroin, whatever you want. And when you get caught or your buddies get caught, don't come to the Gazette web site to plead your case. That is what judges are for. Please spare the rest of us the soap box preaching about legalizing drugs.
Nov 8, 2009 at 4:17 p.m.
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These folks are going to have trouble getting a real job now that this is on their record. I wonder what they will do for money once they realize that?
Nov 8, 2009 at 4:06 p.m.
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Just made more room for other willing people to step in andmake the money. Once the drugs get into the US, the war is lost. for every person you jail for selling, 20 are ready to take their place. If they were to have busted a trafficking operation, or maybe someone who supplies real weight, maybe this would be good. They can "hope" these individuals roll on their suppliers, but that chance is slim. They'd be better of watching these people, and follow the bread crumbs to the source. This is really a waste of resources and time, in the big scheme of things. Not much done here,really.
Nov 8, 2009 at 1:07 p.m.
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latinmami,
I couldn't agree with you more. Cocaine and heroin are both very dangerous drugs, and I'm very happy every time I see someone get busted with either of those two. Marijuana is not dangerous like those other two, though. You can't overdose on marijuana. You can't kill yourself from taking in too much THC.
Nov 7, 2009 at 7:06 p.m.
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It isn't a victimless crime if its your 18 year old baby that dies from an overdose after he purchases drugs. Yes I know it would be the choice of the 18 year old to do it but if they die then they will be another victim of drugs. And I personally am happy more people have been busted such a scary place to be raising my babies in these days wish I could keep them 2 and 4 yrs old!
Nov 7, 2009 at 3:29 p.m.
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Justin T. Peters, 17, of 1019 Pleasant St., Lake Geneva. Charged with manufacturing marijuana. Released on signature bond.
Karl Garcia, 22, of 1306 Park Row, Lake Geneva. Charged with three counts of delivery of marijuana. Released on signature bond.
Richard W. Miller II, 19, of 130 South 7th St., Delavan. Charged with two counts of delivery of marijuana. Released on signature bond.
Nathan M. Etheridge, 18, of 1019 Dorwood Drive, Lake Geneva. Charged with two counts of delivery of marijuana. Released on signature bond.
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I wonder why the four arrested only for marijuana were released on just a signature bond... That's not the only difference between the marijuana dealers and cocaine dealers. Stop wasting our time and money on people harvesting and selling a harmless herb! Clearly even the state law enforcement, and to an extent judiciary branch, recognize the difference! The sad thing is, they don't get to make the laws, just enforce them or judge if a law has been broken. Now it's up to our law makers to fix the laws!
Nov 7, 2009 at 12:26 p.m.
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'significant dent'. right. for now. 2 weeks from now other peeps open up shop to take over an open market. maybe it was a 'dent'. but drug dealers are as easy to come by as the paintless dent repair guys are on a car lot and this dent will be buffed over in no time an business will be up an running again. theres nooooo way to stop it. well theres one way i guess, but no one wants to think about that.
Nov 7, 2009 at 12:25 p.m.
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We now have millions of Americans in prison, each one of them costing us over 24K per year. We have not only the highest per capita incarceration rate of any country in the world, we have almost double that of the second most "prisony" country - Russia.
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America land of the free, maybe we aren't doing it right.
Nov 7, 2009 at 11:44 a.m.
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… … … A very misleading title for the article! I doubt if these busts will have any lasting impact. It was all small timers. The "war on drugs" was lost years ago. When is our country going to wake up and stop wasting money and manpower on enforcement, prosecution, and imprisonment of people who are committing a victimless crime? More than half the people in prison in the United State are there for drug "crimes" at a human and financial cost our country cannot afford. Decriminalize it and tax and regulate it. Use part of the tax receipts to provide treatment for the 10% of users who become addicted.
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… … … Just as it is nobody’s business if someone is gay, straight, or bisexual it is nobody’s business what recreational drugs someone uses in the privacy of their home; (as long as one doesn’t drive or involve children). Prohibition didn’t work for alcohol, and fifty years of anti-tobacco propaganda hasn’t stopped folks from smoking. All the anti-drug crusade has done is to create criminals of 25% of the population while making huge profits for organized crime and the crooked politicians they payoff.
Nov 7, 2009 at 11:10 a.m.
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REAL BUNCH OF NICE LOOKING PEOPLE..........
Nov 7, 2009 at 11:02 a.m.
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Eduardo Aranda, 23, of 4046 Wells St., Lake Geneva, is accused of selling four bags of cocaine weighing 2.4, 0.8, 1.3 and 0.6 grams respectively.
respectively
rofl =D
Nov 6, 2009 at 9 p.m.
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Great Job Law Enforcement!!! Courts...send a message to the fine law abiding citizens!!
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