News
Released: August 11, 2015 - Tuesday, 04:10 PM
The Sheriff's Office was assisted in the investigation by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), District Attorney's Investigators, San Luis Obispo Police Department, County Probation Department, CHP, Irish Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
More than five kilos of cocaine were seized at the locations with an estimated street value of more than $200,000. Semi-automatic rifles, handguns and ammunition were also confiscated.
Investigators say this is one of the largest cocaine busts in recent history. It involved a very sophisticated operation that was distributing and dealing kilos of cocaine at a time, not only inside the county but to surrounding counties as well. It's believed this operation has ties to Mexican drug cartels.
The following people were arrested:
1. Chase Michael Hanson, 25, Morro Bay. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, first degree residential burglary, maintaining a place for the sale of narcotics.
2. Dane James Bennett, 26, Morro Bay. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, maintaining a place for the sale of narcotics.
3. Jonathan David Byham, 25, Atascadero. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
4. Sawyer Scott Sackett, 18, Paso Robles. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
5. Johnnie James Medina Jr., 27, Morro Bay. Conspiracy to commit a crime, first degree residential burglary, receiving stolen property.
6. Alexander John Getzbouchillon, 23, Los Osos. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
7. Jason Vidal Sianez, 27, Atascadero. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
8. Joseph Arch Messineo, 39, Atascadero. Conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of a controlled substance for sale, cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale.
An arrest warrant has been issued for:
9. Alexander Allan Matarese, 31, Cayucos. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
All charges are felonies. The Sheriff's office is also seeking charges in regards to a related residential burglary in Grover Beach. Additional charges are pending.
Narcotics Investigation
Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781 4547Date and time of incident: 8-5-15, 8-6-15, 8-7-15 various times Place of Occurrence: 700 block Napa Ave., Morro Bay 1900 block 10th Street, Los Osos 4900 block Rosario Ave., Atascadero 1000 block Chestnut St., Paso Robles 100 block of 12th Street, Paso RoblesVictim Information: N/ASuspect Information: Chase Michael Hanson, 25, Morro Bay Dane James Bennett, 26, Morro Bay Jonathan David Byham, 25, Atascadero Sawyer Scott Sackett, 18, Paso Robles Johnnie James Medina Jr., 27, Morro Bay Alexander John Getzbouchillon, 23, Los Osos Jason Vidal Sianez, 27, Atascadero Joseph Arch Messineo, 39, Atascadero Alexander Allan Matarese, 31, CayucosAfter an investigation that began in November 2014, members of the Sheriff's Narcotics Unit shut down a major cocaine distribution organization that was operating in San Luis Obispo County. Investigators served search warrants over three days at five locations in the county including Morro Bay, Los Osos, Atascadero and Paso Robles. The Sheriff's Office waited until this week to conduct a press conference because our investigators were still in the process of serving search warrants last week, including one Friday night, and did not want to jeopardize the entire investigation by releasing information in a piecemeal fashion.The Sheriff's Office was assisted in the investigation by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), District Attorney's Investigators, San Luis Obispo Police Department, County Probation Department, CHP, Irish Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
More than five kilos of cocaine were seized at the locations with an estimated street value of more than $200,000. Semi-automatic rifles, handguns and ammunition were also confiscated.
Investigators say this is one of the largest cocaine busts in recent history. It involved a very sophisticated operation that was distributing and dealing kilos of cocaine at a time, not only inside the county but to surrounding counties as well. It's believed this operation has ties to Mexican drug cartels.
The following people were arrested:
1. Chase Michael Hanson, 25, Morro Bay. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, first degree residential burglary, maintaining a place for the sale of narcotics.
2. Dane James Bennett, 26, Morro Bay. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, maintaining a place for the sale of narcotics.
3. Jonathan David Byham, 25, Atascadero. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
4. Sawyer Scott Sackett, 18, Paso Robles. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
5. Johnnie James Medina Jr., 27, Morro Bay. Conspiracy to commit a crime, first degree residential burglary, receiving stolen property.
6. Alexander John Getzbouchillon, 23, Los Osos. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
7. Jason Vidal Sianez, 27, Atascadero. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
8. Joseph Arch Messineo, 39, Atascadero. Conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of a controlled substance for sale, cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale.
An arrest warrant has been issued for:
9. Alexander Allan Matarese, 31, Cayucos. Conspiracy to commit a crime, transportation and sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale.
All charges are felonies. The Sheriff's office is also seeking charges in regards to a related residential burglary in Grover Beach. Additional charges are pending.
