FAYETTEVILLE -- Investigators have arrested two brothers in connection with selling methamphetamine out of their family business in Huntsville, according to federal and county court records.
Luis Mendoza-Mojica, 31, and Carlos Mendoza-Mojica, 29, both of Springdale, were arrested after a yearlong U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation. Several agencies were involved in the case.
Fast fact
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant usually used as a white, bitter-tasting powder or a pill. The drug is synthetic and mostly comes into the U.S. from Mexico.
Source: Staff report
The men are connected to other large, drug-distribution cases in Northwest Arkansas, said Timothy Jones, resident agent in charge for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Fayetteville. The investigation was from January 2016 to June 2017, according to court records filed with the U.S. District Court.
Those cases are ongoing, and more information wasn't available.
Carlos Mendoza-Mojica used his auto business as a way to sell drugs and hide the money, according to the criminal complaint. Using a business as a way to distribute illegal drugs is typical, Jones said.
A confidential informant bought meth twice at the business in April, according to federal records.
Springdale police found 7.5 ounces of meth, 1.2 ounces of cocaine and roughly $7,560 in Carlos Mendoza-Mojica's apartment at 282 Sage St. in Springdale, according to a search warrant filed at the Washington County Circuit Court. His brother, Luis, had a room in the same apartment, the record shows.
Carlos Mendoza-Mojica was arrested April 27.
Investigators couldn't immediately find Luis Mendoza-Mojica, according to the search warrant. Carlos Mendoza-Mojica's wife told police she didn't know where Luis Mendoza-Mojica was, according to the warrant.
Luis Mendoza-Mojica canceled his cellphone number two days after his brother was arrested and opened another cellphone account under the name of El Pulgarcito Tire Shop at 2505 S. Thompson St. in Springdale, according to the warrant.
Investigators used Luis Mendoza-Mojica's new cellphone number to track him, according to court documents. He was arrested May 10, online detention records show.
A message left for the number listed for El Pulgarcito Tire Shop wasn't returned Thursday. The business isn't listed with an active state business license, according to secretary of state records.
The address and name of the Huntsville business isn't listed in court documents. Online secretary of state records show no listing for a business for the last name Mendoza-Mojica.
The men are at the Washington County Detention Center with no bonds set.
Luis Mendoza-Mojica faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance, conspiring to distribute a controlled substance and aiding and abetting with the intent of distributing a controlled substance.
Carlos Mendoza-Mojica is facing charges of conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, aiding and abetting others with the intent of distributing a controlled substance and six counts of delivery of a controlled substance, according to the indictment.
The state filed a civil suit in May in Washington County Circuit Court to take Carlos Mendoza-Mojica's property and $1,500 he had when he was arrested.
NW News on 07/15/2017