200 kilograms Of Methamphetamine Seized From Gwinnett County Home

GWINNETT COUNTY — Four Georgia men, two from Gwinnett County, were indicted this month for allegedly conspiring to sell methamphetamine by the kilogram, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Georgia.

David Garcia, 40, of Duluth, Kevin Tello, 26, of Lawrenceville, Eduardo Penaloza-Pacheco, 36, of Gainesville, Georgia, and Almarud Duarte, 25, of Oakwood, Georgia, were indicted on October 26.

When law enforcement searched their homes, they found approximately 200 kilograms of methamphetamine, according to the release. The majority of it was found in Garcia’s house in Duluth.

“Removing these four defendants from our streets for their alleged drug trafficking activity, immediately makes our communities safer,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta in a statement. “The FBI and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners work tirelessly to rid communities of dangerous drugs that threaten our citizens lives.”

From May to August, Duarte allegedly sold methamphetamine by the kilogram, shortly after obtaining the methamphetamine from Kevin Tello or David Garcia, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine. On June 28, Penaloza-Pacheco allegedly sold a kilogram of methamphetamine, shortly after obtaining the methamphetamine from Tello.

“This case highlights the great work resulting from a partnership between federal law enforcement and state/local authorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “We believe countless lives have been saved now that this meth is not plaguing our communities.”