Drug sweep busts four in three Douglas cases

Three men were arrested Wednesday for trafficking in methamphetamine. Penalties could be doubled on conviction because transactions allegedly took place within 1,000 feet of two Douglas County schools.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and members of the Tri-Net and SLEDNET narcotics task forces arrested a fourth man in Dayton on Dec. 2 for alleged drug sales in Douglas County.

Arrested Wednesday were:

• Juan Sepulveda-Leon, 30, of Gardnerville, charged with trafficking a schedule 1 narcotic, methamphetamine;

• Jose Maria Lopez, 30, of Carson City, charged with conspiracy and trafficking a schedule 1 narcotic, methamphetamine;

• Jeffrey Thomas Gainey, 23, of Minden, two counts of trafficking in a schedule 1 narcotic, methamphetamine.

Sepulveda-Leon is in Douglas County Jail on $100,000 bail. Lopez's bail is at $100,000.

Gainey was arrested in an unrelated case, but also faces the double penalty because he allegedly conducted sales from his home in the 1700 block of Pinewood Drive near Douglas High School.

Sepulveda-Leon lives in the 1300 block of Highway 395 within 1,000 feet of Gardnerville Elementary School.

On Dec. 2, officers arrested Juan Diego Rojas-Serrano at his home in the 100 block of Fortune Drive in Dayton. He was charged with trafficking a schedule 1 narcotic, methamphetamine and was released from Douglas County Jail after posting $10,000 cash bail.

The trafficking charge is considered a category B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in Nevada State Prison.

Because one of the charges against Sepulveda-Leon involves more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, he faces a category A felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

If the suspects who live within 1,000 feet of the schools are convicted, their penalties are doubled with the additional term to run consecutively.

Sepulveda-Leon was arrested at home, and Lopez was picked up in the parking lot of a north Douglas County shopping center.

Gainey also was arrested at home.

Sepulveda-Leon's 1994 Ford Mustang was seized at his arrest and will be auctioned by the county.

Mezzetta said proceeds will be used in anti-drug programs.

"Douglas County is not unique in its challenges to combat drug use, specifically the narcotic methamphetamine," Mezzetta said. "Methamphetamine is easily manufactured and is, without question, one of the most harmful and addicting substances being ingested across the nation.

"Drug sales and drug use attract other crimes into a community and have a ripple effect on the quality of life for the entire community. Sheriff (Ron) Pierini is steadfast in his zero tolerance of enforcement of narcotics," Mezzetta said.