Feds: Major meth operation busted

LIGONIER, Ind. (WANE)  Officials announced the arrests of several people accusing of being involved in what appears to be a large meth distribution ring operating out of a taco restaurant in Ligonier.

The United States Attorney’s Office announced the charges on March 22. One of the suspects is accused of being a large supplier of meth in Noble County.

Javier Madrigal, 48, and Lizbeth Correa, 34, of Wawaka, are charged with distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Juan Sandoval, 45, of Fort Wayne, is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.

According to documents, a confidential source with previous drug convictions told police he had reluctantly gone back to work at Madrigal's drug business, which operated out of a taco restaurant Madrigal owns in Ligonier. The source agreed to help officials in order to lessen a drug dealing offense.

The source told officials Madrigal was as a large supplier of meth in Noble County. According to court documents, the source was able to buy increasing amounts of meth from Madrigal out of his taco restaurant, Chilangos Tacos, in Ligonier, from January to March 2013. At one point during the investigation, the undercover source received two pounds of meth disguised as a frosted cake.

Madrigal was arrested on Thursday at Chilangos Tacos in Ligonier. Magdrigal’s wife or girlfriend Correa, also worked at Chilangos Tacos. They both face charges of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Sandoval was also arrested after months of undercover work. The source bought meth several times, beginning in February 2013, from Sandoval. He was arrested Thursday in Fort Wayne.  According to documents, Sandoval is accused of getting his meth from Madrigal.

Friday, officials announced the December arrest of who they call another meth distributor.

Glenda R. Brickey, 27, of Ligonier, is charged with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Brickey was a passenger in a car during a traffic stop in December 2012. The officer’s drug dog alerted him to the presence of a narcotic odor. Police eventually found meth in her purse, a glass smoking pipe and three ounces of meth in her bra. Documents don’t indicate if Brickey had any connection with the others charged in the alleged meth distribution ring.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ligonier Police Department and the IMAGE Drug Task Force are involved in these investigations.