DEA raids Vallejo home, allegedly finds a pill press

Three people are facing federal charges related to drug trafficking after Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided a home and found evidence that they were pressing up thousands of pills containing methamphetamine, authorities said. The pills were colorful, bearing images of handguns or emblems like the Batman and Superman logos, according to an affidavit by a DEA agent. They were being allegedly manufactured with a pill press machine also found in the residence. On Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged two men, Darren Mitchell and Ronald John Garnes, with possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine; authorities say several kilograms of meth were found in the home.

Additionally, Mitchell is being charged with being a felon in possession of a fire

arm.

The charges relate to a Tuesday morning raid at a home on the 100 block of Kemper Street in Vallejo. According to the affidavit, when authorities knocked on the door, Mitchell tried

to sneak out through a side window, then retreated back into the home when he saw who was waiting outside. He was eventually arrested.

“In the hallway of the residence on a shelf directly above the washer and drier units, I observed in plain sight numerous plastic containers, electric blenders, accompanying plastic blender cups and digital scales and spoons that contained multi- colored powdery residue consistent with the bowls of powder and pills located in the rear right bedroom manufacturing room,” DEA Special Agent Brian Nehring wrote in the affidavit. “During a search of the kitchen, I lo

cated a manual pill press with powdery residue under the sink.”

Two guns — an AR-15 rifle and a pistol — were also found in the home, the affidavit alleges. Federal law forbade both men from possessing guns because they both have multiple felony convictions, but Garnes denied any knowledge of them, the affidavit says. Mitchell allegedly took a different approach.

“Mitchell assured me that he was not going to fight his case and just wanted to go do his time, and reiterated that he was offended how many people he believed had snitched on him,” Nehring wrote.