Locals of East Topeka, Kansas have spent the last several years enjoying food at Pronto Pizza without knowing the hidden truth: the pizza shop was an undercover methamphetamine operation all along.
The owner, Adolfo Barragan-Rodriguez, funded the drug ring via proceeds through Prairie Band Potawatomi Casino transactions. The 4 pounds of meth and 92 unregistered firearms found at the crime scene are also linked to the ever-growing online black market.
In addition to the illegal weapons and drugs, $14,900 in cash was also confiscated. Barragan-Rodriguez masterminded the operation; using his restaurant as the perfect cover.
“Barragan-Rodriguez used his restaurant as a front for the drug trafficking organization. Investigators kept conspirators under surveillance as they came and went from Pronto Pizza with packages.
Barragan-Rodriguez, who was known by the conspirators as Big Mike, managed the logistics of buying pounds of methamphetamine in California and shipping the drugs to Topeka, leaving other conspirators to handle street sales to users.”
This past week, the suspects were taken into custody and stacked up with a variety of charges; including operating a meth house within 1,000 feet of a Catholic school.
Besides Barragan-Rodriguez, the arrested include:
- Michelle Belair, 34, Topeka.
- Jose Medina-Benuto, 20, Topeka.
- Michael Price, 42, Topeka.
- Joseph Jones, 41, Topeka.
- Linda Hardin, 48, Topeka.
- Heather Hurley, 29, Topeka.
- Daniel A. Rice, 57, Topeka.
- Nicholas Casarona, 41, Topeka.
- Jose Ruiz, 37, Topeka.
Their charges include:
- Conspiracy
- Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Interstate transportation in furtherance of drug trafficking
- Use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking
- Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school
- Money laundering
- Unlawful possession of firearms
The dark web has been one of the largest influences in illegal drug markets – both online and offline. This is only one case of hundreds discovered on a monthly basis. Despite the number of busts occurring lately, one can only assume that with every vender arrested, five more will appear.