Rosa Elena Rangel Pantoja, Dustin Burgess, and Berzain Leal Batrez have received federal prison sentences for their involvement in a large methamphetamine conversion and distribution operation. "Methamphetamine production and distribution continues to pose a grave threat to public safety," stated U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. He credited law enforcement partners for dismantling the operation.
Robert J. Murphy of the DEA Atlanta Division remarked on the significant threat posed by these traffickers' activities, especially to children living near the lab. "The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with methamphetamine... will be held accountable."
Mitchell Jackson from FBI Atlanta's Dalton office noted the profit-driven nature of Rangel’s organization amidst the drug crisis: "The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to shut down these dangerous organizations." Steven N. Schrank from HSI Atlanta emphasized that these sentences reflect consequences for impacting communities destructively.
According to court details provided by U.S. Attorney Buchanan, Rangel led a drug trafficking organization from October 2021 until August 2022, which manufactured crystal methamphetamine in Georgia. Liquid methamphetamine was transported from Mexico using semi-trucks before being converted into crystal form at clandestine laboratories.
In March 2022, law enforcement began investigating after DEA, FBI, and GBI agents were informed about Rangel purchasing large amounts of acetone—a critical component in converting liquid methamphetamine into its crystal form.
In August 2022, one laboratory was found in Canon, Georgia; over 250 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and nearly 10 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine were seized. In November 2022, another lab was discovered in Austell, Georgia; over 160 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and 75 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine were seized there.
Investigations revealed Rangel's coordination with a boss based in Mexico who communicated threats relayed through her to other members involved in supplying labs with necessary acetone.
U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II sentenced Rosa Rangel to 15 years imprisonment followed by five years supervised release after she pleaded guilty on November 6, 2023; Dustin Burgess received a sentence of 13 years imprisonment followed by five years supervised release after pleading guilty on October 5; Berzain Leal Batrez was sentenced to seven years and eleven months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release also after pleading guilty on October 5.
Judge Ray will sentence two additional defendants—Martha Karina Rangel-Pantoja on January 13, 2025, and Uriel Plancarte Mendoza on March 21.
The case has been investigated by multiple agencies including DEA, FBI alongside support from various regional law enforcement bodies as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at disrupting high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through coordinated efforts involving intelligence gathering strategies spearheaded by prosecutors.
For more information contact U.S Attorney’s Public Affairs Office via email or phone provided above or visit their official website linked accordingly.