8 People Arrested in Moses Lake on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges and Violent Offenses

Moses Lake, Washington, - Today, United State Attorney Vanessa Waldref, announced the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service (USMS), Moses Lake Police Department (MLPD), Border Patrol, and the Washington Department of Corrections arrested eight individuals charged with various federal drug trafficking and violent offenses.

Among those arrested:

• Solomon Valle-Chavarria, Pedro Valley-Chavarria, Jose Mauricio Rodriguez-Sanchez and Paulino Portillo-Orozco were arrested on a 7-count indictment stemming from their methamphetamine distribution activities and unlawful firearm possession, to include a firearm believed to be utilized in a murder that occurred in November 2023 in Montlake Park. 

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• Troy S. McLanahan’s residence was searched on January 23, 2024, pursuant to a federal search warrant related to his distribution of drugs out of said residence.  During the execution of the search warrant, ATF and MLPD recovered approximately 35 guns, which included assault rifles, short-barreled shotguns, short-barreled rifles, as well as high-capacity shotgun banana clips, 3 silencers and more than 1 pound of methamphetamine (pictures below).  McLanahan was subsequently charged by criminal complaint. 

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• Rebecca A. Jimenez was arrested for her role in an incident on January 21, 2022, where a vehicle was set on fire in the Moses Lake Motel 6 parking lot over a drug debt.  Her two co-defendants, Tyler Wallo and David Maybee are currently in state prison serving sentences for unrelated convictions and will have their appearance in federal court on these charges next month. 

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• Cameron Ross was arrested for distribution, attempted distribution, and conspiracy to distribute large quantity of fentanyl pills into the Moses Lake community.

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• Nicholas E. Essex was arrested for distribution of methamphetamine into the Moses Lake community.  When he was arrested, he was on pre-trial release for state charges of Possession of Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. 

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“During the arrests in these cases, illegal drugs and a large number of firearms were taken off our streets, demonstrating the significant impact that is felt when federal, state and local law enforcement work together,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We will continue our collaborative, focused efforts to combat violent crime issues and make our communities safer and stronger.”

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.

An indictment and a complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.