3 Men Face Federal Charges for Selling Meth

TRI-CITIES (AP) — Three Pasco men are facing federal charges after authorities say they sold methamphetamine to undercover officers during an eight-month investigation.

The Tri-City Herald reports that Gustavo Negrete-Villalobos, Joel Macias and Francisco Elvira Jr. have each been charged with conspiracy to distribute meth.

Court documents say the Drug Enforcement Administration began the investigation in January after identifying Negrete-Villalobos as a drug trafficker in the Tri-City region.

Authorities say he sold significant quantities of meth and marijuana to undercover detectives at least twice this year, including one deal worth almost $38,000.

Negrete-Villalobos and Macias were arrested by detectives after a Sept. 27 drug deal. Elvira was arrested near his Pasco home, where authorities say they seized at least $50,000 in cash, drugs and three guns.

Macias and Elvira have been released from jail, and Negrete-Villalobos remains jailed while his attorney prepares an argument for his release.