BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 Individually, the items were innocuous enough. Propane tanks, paper towels, thermometers, shelving racks, heavy-duty storage containers.<\/p>\n
But taken as a whole, detectives saw the makings of a methamphetamine lab.<\/p>\n
Factoring into their suspicions was the man they saw purchasing the items.<\/p>\n
Casimiro Violante-Lopez, 46, was wanted in connection with another case where he was found with 53 pounds of methamphetamine, according to court documents.<\/p>\n
On Oct. 30, sheriff\u2019s investigators executed a warrant at a home in the 400 block of Rian Noelle Court, where Violante-Lopez had brought the items.<\/p>\n
They immediately knew their suspicions were correct.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was an unbearable odor of chemicals inside the residence and several components pertaining to a methamphetamine conversion lab in plain view . . .,\u201d an investigator wrote in documents released this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe entire basement and garage area and some of the ground level of the residence was being utilized to process the methamphetamine.\u201d<\/p>\n
In total, detectives seized 953.9 pounds of processed meth and 2,725 pounds of meth in solution, the reports say.<\/p>\n
They also made five arrests: Violante-Lopez; Christian Castro, 29; Kymberly Lopez-Garcia, 22; Jesus Felix-Castro, 26; and Fausto Zazueta-Beltran, 49.<\/p>\n
Each has pleaded not guilty to drug-related crimes. They\u2019re due back in court Dec. 18.<\/p>\n
Surveillance operation<\/p>\n
Investigators had been watching Violante-Lopez more than a week. They followed him as he made purchases at Home Depot and Walmart, and filled propane tanks at a gas station.<\/p>\n
And they were watching when two vehicles parked near the Rian Noelle Court home on Oct. 30. An occupant of one of the vehicles went inside. He came out minutes later carrying something.<\/p>\n
Both vehicles \u2014 an SUV and Honda Accord \u2014 drove to a nearby park. Detectives watched as an item was transferred from the SUV to the car.<\/p>\n
The vehicles then got on northbound Highway 99. Authorities pulled them over.<\/p>\n
About 10 pounds of meth was found in the car, which was occupied by Christian Castro and Kymberly Lopez-Garcia, according to the documents.<\/p>\n
The driver and sole occupant of the SUV was Jesus Felix-Castro, documents said.<\/p>\n
All three were arrested, and investigators executed a warrant at the Rian Noelle Court residence.<\/p>\n
Inside were cans of muriatic acid and acetone. Fifty-gallon barrels held acetone or meth solution. Large blue tarps covered a bedroom floor on which processed meth had been placed.<\/p>\n
Also in the house was Zazueta-Beltran. He admitted cooking meth, saying he was told how over the phone, according to the documents.<\/p>\n
Zazueta-Beltran appeared resigned to his fate, an investigator wrote. He said he\u2019d rather be in a U.S. jail than in custody in Mexico.<\/p>\n
He told investigators he\u2019d been promised a lot, but hadn\u2019t been paid a dollar.<\/p>\n
Violante-Lopez was taken into custody at another location. He and the others denied involvement in the operation, documents said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout my interview with Violante-Lopez, he was completely untruthful and in denial of being involved with the sales and transportation of narcotics,\u201d an investigator wrote.<\/p>\n
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