Man pleads guilty in state’s largest meth bust
The man accused of being the leader of a drug-trafficking ring, whose arrest last year led to the largest methamphetamine bust in Nevada history, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts.
Oscar Cavadas, 27, said he was guilty of trafficking a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm and conspiracy. As part of the deal, prosecutors agreed to recommend a nine-year-to-life prison term to Judge Jerry Tao, who will sentence Cavadas at a Feb. 12 hearing.
Cavadas, also known as Moreliano Zaragoza-Ramos, originally faced more than 20 felony counts.
Cavadas and 13 others were charged in July 2011 after a yearlong investigation by the Southern Nevada Drug Task Force netted 208 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $5.7 million. Authorities also seized 4 pounds of heroin, $280,000 in cash, a shotgun, five handguns — including one with a silencer — and nine vehicles in the July 12 bust.
A task force of local and federal investigators confiscated the drugs in a coordinated raid of five local homes that were part of a Mexican drug operation.
Authorities think the drugs were transported from Mexico, where they were made, by vehicles with several smuggling compartments.
At least six of the defendants were in the country illegally. Two of the 14 people charged in connection with the drug ring are still at large, authorities said. Eleven others have pleaded guilty to drug-related felonies.
In a statement, District Attorney Steve Wolfson said, “This was the largest methamphetamine bust ever in Southern Nevada, and now Mr. Cavadas will get an equally serious prison term.” since it’s the last consistent date, it will bring me good luck with my last exam of the semester.”
Today might be the perfect date to tie the knot, finalize your vows and mark the end of your single years. The Chapel of the Flowers is collaborating with KOMP-FM, 92.3, radio station to have 12 weddings at 12 p.m. The radio station selected the couples in November through nominations.
“We’ve had double or triple weddings before, but nothing of this caliber, so it’s exciting,” said Aimee Stephens of the Chapel of the Flowers. “It will be a heartfelt and emotional experience shared with the group.”
In anticipation of a large number of marriage license applications today, the Clark County recorder’s office is opening the Laughlin office.
Last year, 3,300 licenses were issued in Clark County for 11/11/11. The most issued for a repetitive-date wedding was for 7/7/07 — a lucky number for gamblers, and hopefully for those 4,333 couples. On average, the county issues about 7,400 marriage licenses per month.
Next year, we will have to turn our attention to a consecutive date: 11/12/13, because today is the last repetitive date this century. Besides, even if there were a 13/13/13, it wouldn’t matter come 12/21/12.