HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Two individuals who were allegedly dealing methamphetamine have been arrested following information the Guam Police Department received from an informant.
Janet Pangelinan Cruz and Francis Robert Perez Mendiola face felony drug charges in the Superior Court of Guam.
The informant told police that Cruz was selling methamphetamine out of her Ordot-Chalan Pago residence.
“They (informant) had purchased from (Cruz). A successful controlled buy from (Cruz) was conducted by … officers using an informant on Jan. 25,” a magistrate’s complaint said.
The informant purchased 0.75 grams of methamphetamine during the controlled buy, according to police.
“The informant stated (a person called) ‘Evan’ met them at the door and the informant asked if they can buy a gram for $100.00. Evan went to talk with (Cruz) to ask if the transaction was possible and came back and told the informant, ‘She can do it,’” court documents stated.
According to GPD, video and audio were obtained during the controlled buy.
Less than a week later, a search warrant was executed by Guam police and federal task force officers who searched Cruz’s home.
Authorities found the following:
• A resealable baggie with 0.88 grams of suspected methamphetamine.
• A plastic baggie with 0.84 grams of suspected methamphetamine.
• A small baggie with suspected methamphetamine mixed with an unknown brown powdered substance.
• A medicine bottle containing an unknown liquid substance.
• A brownish glass pipe with methamphetamine.
• Two glass water bongs with an unknown liquid substance and methamphetamine residue.
• A white, medium-sized bag containing methamphetamine residue.
• A syringe with an unknown dark-colored substance.
• A Raven Arms P25, .25 caliber pistol.
Cruz allegedly admitted to selling drugs “but stated only enough to buy more, since she (had) an addiction.”
Police said she admitted to purchasing 5 grams a week for $250.
Cruz told police Mendiola owned the firearm and syringes.
“(Mendiola) received the firearms from two male individuals,” the complaint said.
The complaint stated that Cruz alleged that Mendiola also sold methamphetamine and he sold “more than her.”
Mendiola was present when authorities searched the home.
The complaint stated that Mendiola waived his rights in writing before he told officers that “he has been smoking and selling methamphetamine daily since 1985.”
“He further stated selling methamphetamine is his only source of income,” the complaint said.
On the day of the police interview, it was noted that Mendiola last smoked methamphetamine “before midnight.”
“(Mendiola) corroborated (Cruz’s) statements that he received a firearm from a male, and he admitted he did not have a firearm identification card. He stated he thought the firearm was an airsoft gun,” the complaint said.
The magistrate’s complaint noted the gun recovered in the search was not reported stolen, and attempts to contact the registered owner were unsuccessful.
Officers reported they found 13.21 gross grams of suspected methamphetamine in Mendiola’s left front pants pocket.
Police reported a baggie with suspected methamphetamine was found in the main bedroom.
Cruz and Mendiola were charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with intent to deliver as a first-degree felony and possession of an amphetamine-based controlled substance as a third-degree felony.
Mendiola was additionally charged with possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card as a third-degree felony.
Guam Police Department vehicles parked at the central precinct in Sinajana on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Sinajana.
