Details in DEA investigation in Moses Lake released

SPOKANE - Federal court documents unsealed Thursday show two alleged methamphetamine dealers from Othello were taken into custody in the Moses Lake Pizza Hut parking lot June 4 during a DEA investigation.

SPOKANE - Federal court documents unsealed Thursday show two alleged methamphetamine dealers from Othello were taken into custody in the Moses Lake Pizza Hut parking lot June 4 during a DEA investigation.

Details on the heavy police presence at Pizza Hut on June 4 were not initially released because of the ongoing investigation, according to a spokesperson with the DEA.

The restaurant's parking lot was the meeting site for a pre-arranged drug deal using a DEA informant, according to court documents. The restaurant and its employees were not named in court documents as being part of the investigation or suspected of any wrongdoing.

Drug dealing suspects Amy Dawn Cerrillo, 35, and Martin Farias, 27, both of Othello, were indicted in U.S. District Court on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to the affidavit unsealed Thursday, members of the DEA and the Montana Drug Task Force set up a controlled buy with Cerrillo and Farias in Othello.

Officers reportedly followed Cerrillo and an informant from Othello to north of Mesa to meet with Farias to purchase 1 pound of methamphetamine, which was allegedly handed by Cerrillo to the informant and turned over to officers back in Othello.

On June 4, officers again set up a controlled buy from Farias through Cerrillo. The informant allegedly had made previous arrangements with Cerrillo to come from Montana to purchase 1 to 2 pounds of methamphetamine at $5,800 per pound, according to the affidavit.

The informant was followed by officers to a pre-determined location east of Othello, when Cerrillo allegedly told the informant to meet in Moses Lake. The two eventually met with Farias at the Moses Lake Pizza Hut. Farias allegedly drove to Moses Lake in a silver Honda where the methamphetamine was allegedly found.

Cerrillo later told officers she wanted to cooperate in the investigation and allegedly said she had acquired methamphetamine from Farias in the past, admitting to arranging for the delivery and purchase of methamphetamine from Farias during the investigation.

Both Cerrillo and Farias are booked into Spokane County Jail awaiting trial.

Managing Editor Lynne Lynch contributed to this report.