A dozen suspects now face an indictment for running a drug ring known as the Lenox Park Cartel, named for the Lenox Park subdivision in Gainesville, although one of the twelve has thus far eluded custody.
Erick Ruiz of Gainesville (pictured) is the only suspect in the drug operation not in custody, according to Lt. Scott Ware with the Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, adding that the first 11 suspects were arrested in September 2015, all taken into custody without incident.
They were indicted at the first of the year, said Ware in a phone interview.
Authorities seized $896,000 worth of methamphetamine, $22,400 worth of cocaine and $12,000 worth of marijuana during a 10-month undercover investigation, also seizing 16 firearms.
Law enforcement, which included agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Stephens County Sheriff's Office and Gainesville Police Department, said the suspects trafficked more than 8,800 pounds of methamphetamine between January 1, 2014 and October 1, 2015.
The following suspects are in custody, facing the indictment:
- Alejandro Avila, 26, of Gainesville
- Edwin Barrera, 25, of Gainesville
- Diego Armando Cantero, 29, of Gainesville
- Marco Antonio Cantero, 27, of Gainesville
- Jose Ramon Cardenas, 22, of Gainesville
- Victoria Carrera, 25, of Gainesville
- Christel Ivester, 40, of Toccoa
- Raul Mendoza Garcia, 29, of Gainesville
- William Suarez, 63 of Gainesville
