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Five local men indicted for funneling meth into Central Valley and Hawaii
LEON-Chavez Gilberto 070685
Gilberto Chavez Leon

Local and federal drug agents busted up an alleged methamphetamine ring that was distributing the narcotic from the Central Valley to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Two local men were taken into custody Tuesday in connection with the investigation and three others are being sought.

An indictment was unsealed Tuesday in federal court and names Miguel Angel Leontapia, 32, Eduardo Zazueta Garcia, 26, Armando Mendoza, 18, Gilberto Chavez Leon, 27, and Guillermo Paredes Jr., 23, as participants in the methamphetamine ring. The men are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to the indictment, the men were trafficking methamphetamine in Stanislaus and Merced counties and in Honolulu between June and October of this year.

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Stanislaus County DEA and the Modesto Police Department took Leontapia into custody Tuesday at his Delhi residence. Garcia was arrested at his home in Turlock on Tuesday as well. Both were arraigned Tuesday and entered not guilty pleas. 

The three other defendants are being sought for arrest and are believed to reside in Stanislaus and Merced counties.