Five charged after DEA raid finds cocaine in Austintown
A DEA raid on Kirk Road in Austintown led to several arrests.
According to the affidavit, Jose Espinoza-Medina flew into Dallas from Mexico on May 10 and arrived in Austintown at Jose Rios's residence on May 12.
Agents say Espinoza-Medina flew back to Dallas multiple times and came back to Rios's residence with coolers.
The affidavit says that multiple unidentified individuals were seen leaving Rios's residence with packages suspected to contain drugs.
The alleged activity occurred between May and September.
Agents say they observed a shop press and several hand tools being brought into the home on one occasion.
According to the affidavit, agents observed Hector Delira-Rico and Casimiro Hidalgo-Herrera bring two tool bags into Rios's home and leave.
Investigators say the two men were joined by Javier Delgado-Ortiz and entered the Family Dollar location on Canfield Road where they purchased energy drinks, headphones, and nearly 2000 rubber bands.
Surveillance showed that Delira-Rico paid for the items and the three men went back to Rios's residence.
On September 24, State Troopers stopped Jose Espinoza-Medina's vehicle and found a hidden compartment within the fiberglass cap.
Troopers say they found 18 kilograms of suspected cocaine in the compartment.
According to the affidavit, federal investigators obtained search warrants for the Kirk Road home and another residence on Dover Road and executed them on September 25 around 6:08 a.m.
According to the affidavit, investigators found a money ledger, rubber bands, five vacuum-sealed bags with cocaine residue, a digital scale and U.S. currency inside the home on the 4000 block of Kirk Road.
Delira-Rico and Delgado-Ortiz were at the Kirk Road home at the time.
A search of the home on the 3500 block of Dover Road led to the finding of U.S. currency, a kilo press, a money counter, suspected cocaine, respirator masks, and a vacuum sealer.
Hidalgo-Herrera was at the Dover Road home.
Investigators have charged Rios, Espinoza-Medina, Ortiz-Delgado, Delira-Rico, and Hidalgo-Herrera with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.