Eddie J. Dorantes, 41, and Oscar F. Chong-Aguirre, 52. Both men are from Las Vegas, Nevada. They are accused of hauling more than 500 pounds cocaine

Eddie J. Dorantes, 41, and Oscar F. Chong-Aguirre, 52. Both men are from Las Vegas, Nevada. They are accused of hauling more than 500 pounds of cocaine through the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested the men Friday night, after they stopped for a routine truck inspection at the weigh station on Interstate 44 in Newton County."During conversation with the driver and passenger, the commercial vehicle officer became suspicious of criminal activity and requested a trooper and an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration respond to the weigh station," the patrol says in a news release. "The officers were then granted consent to search the tractor-trailer unit. Located in the trailer were 227 kilogram-sized bundles of cocaine concealed within the load of produce."

Marzett L. Parker,was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr Monday morning to 27 years in federal prison without parole

Marzett L. Parker, 37, of San Francisco, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr Monday morning to 27 years in federal prison without parole.
On Feb. 27, a federal jury convicted Parker of participating in a conspiracy to distribute PCP from March 14-31, 2006. He was also found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP and one count of possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.Parker was arrested on March 30, 2006, after Missouri State Highway Patrol commercial motor vehicle inspectors stopped a 2000 Peterbilt tractor driven by Parker, which was pulling a 1994 Boyd car-hauler trailer containing three vehicles, for a commercial motor vehicle compliance inspection at the D-4 East Weigh Station on Interstate 44 in Newton County.During the inspection, which revealed several administrative and mechanical deficiencies, the officer became suspicious about the purpose of the travel. During a search of the tractor-trailer and vehicles, officers found 40 one-gallon-sized tin cans containing phencyclidine (PCP). Those cans were placed in two cardboard boxes, which were in a 2001 Ford Excursion located on the trailer. Officers also found 12 kilogram-sized packages of cocaine in the dash of a 1995 Nissan Quest van, which was also located on the trailer.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Newton County Sheriff’s Department.