GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville man, who was deported following a 2004 conviction on federal drug charges, is back in the states and in the Hall County Jail, facing new drug charges.
Lt. Scott Ware of the Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (MANS) says Elios Penaloza-Duarte, 44, was one of two people arrested Tuesday in a drug raid in North Hall.
Lt. Ware says Penaloza-Duarte is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, six counts of Possession of a Firearm by a convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Identification Number. In addition, a "hold" has been placed on him for immigration authorities.
Arrested with Penaloza-Duarte was Julia Sosa-Benitez, 34, of Sugar Hill, who is charged with Obstruction and Tampering with Evidence.
Ware says the pair was arrested at Penaloza-Duarte's home in the 3100 block of Shelter Cove by MANS agents along with Hall County Sheriff’s deputies,FBI agents,agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, and the Georgia National Guard Counter Drug Task Force.
He added about seven grams of methamphetamine were seized in the raid, along with digital scales, packaging materials, six guns (one of which had the identification mark altered), and an undisclosed amount of money. The meth had a street value of about $700, according to Lt. Ware.
Ware said Penaloza-Duarte was convicted in 2004 of federal charges of Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine. "He was deported following that conviction, and had re-entered the United States illegally."
Penaloza-Duarte remains in the Hall County Jail. Julia Sosa-Benitez has been freed on bond.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/6/314694/s-hall-drug-raid-leads-to-arrest-of-man-deported-following-2004-drug-conviction